Attempts by narrow-minded lobby groups to smear Rael as “Apartheid Agents” are patently false. Rael is a group of self-funded Israeli students who have chosen to embark on a trip to South Africa of their own accord in partnership with the South African Union of Jewish Students. The group is entirely independent and self-funded and its members  represent neither the Israeli government nor any other political parties. Their aim, as Israeli students, is to promote understanding of the political situation through peaceful dialogue, robust debate and discussion.

The Rael group represents the broad spectrum of political views found in Israeli society, and itself is comprised of a diversity of races and ethnic groups.  Its members believe that peace can only be achieved through discussion and aim to provide a realistic view of Israeli society, which is often falsely portrayed in the media.

Those who are attempting to portray Rael as propagandists and agents of apartheid aim at undermining an objective dedicated to dialogue and engagement. They are further discouraging freedom of expression, a central principle enshrined in the South African constitution. No matter what one’s views on the Middle East may be, the visiting students undoubtedly provide insight into what it means to be an Israeli and the complexities of life in the Middle East. Those who impugn their motives and integrity even before they have had a chance to speak for themselves do no more than display their own lack of tolerance for viewpoints that may contradict their own. 

Instructing one’s members to boycott is not an answer. Rather, it impinges on our right to be freethinking, progressive and open minded South Africans. Both SAUJS and the Israeli students believe that opposing parties are acting to curtail a possibility for creating understanding and building bridges. This is not in the South African spirit of dialogue and bridge-building, and is especially inappropriate in a university environment where free enquiry and open debate are held to be fundamental values.