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NEWS
South Africa: Jewish Leaders Voice Cautious Optimism Following Presidential Elections
By R. Hoffner
Despite blatantly anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian remarks in the past by ranking members of South Africa's ruling party, heads of the country's Jewish community insist there is no cause for alarm over the election victory of President-elect Jacob Zuma, saying relations with him have always been good and he is expected to adopt a positive stance toward the Jewish community and Israel.
Michael Bagraim, president of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that the country's Jews voted for candidates representing each of the parties and said his organization, an umbrella group for South Africa's Jewish community, was very pleased with how the elections were run. "Democracy has been shown to be the correct system, especially for South Africa, and we are absolutely satisfied with the outcome," he said.
He says since Zuma became chairman of the African National Congress (ANC) at the end of 2007 he has fostered good relations between South Africa and Israel. Recently he told Jewish leaders that relations with the Jewish community would remain good. Bagraim said Zuma, "recently indicated to us in no uncertain terms that his relationship with the Jewish community must be kept at an all-time high...[H]e's got bigger issues, like poverty and AIDS, than worrying about the Middle East."
Despite the cautious optimism among community leaders, others described his election victory "a depressing defeat" for democracy. Steve Magid, publisher of a popular Jewish affairs blog, warned that Zuma's rise to power could further strengthen large anti-Israel organizations like COSATU, a trade union where Zuma has a strong support base and which promotes boycotts of Israeli products and Israeli-owned businesses.
"Zuma's style is to tell everyone what they want to hear," said Magid.
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