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South African cabinet minister Ronnie Kasrils, left, meeting with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Sunday. (Reuters)
Last update - 15:54 07/05/2007
Jewish S. African minister slams critics of invitation to Hamas PM
By Reuters

A South African cabinet minister, who is himself Jewish but also an outspoken critic of Israel, on Monday defended his invitation to Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh to make his first visit outside the Muslim world, saying it was "myopic" to reject opportunities for dialogue.

Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils provoked controversy last week when he extended the invitation during a visit to the Palestinian territories. He said South Africa's own experience showed the need to talk to all sides.
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"Those who myopically object to such invitations merely show that they have learnt nothing from South Africa's transition," Kasrils said in a statement.

"Such logic as they espouse would not have allowed (apartheid era president) PW Botha to have met with the imprisoned (Nelson) Mandela nor his release by (former president) FW De Klerk as a partner in negotiations."

No date has been set for the trip, which Kasrils said had been endorsed by Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

South Africa's Jewish Board of Deputies has criticised the invitation, saying the "racist ideology" of Haniyeh's Hamas organisation, which leads the Palestinian unity government, stood in contrast to South Africa's own post-apartheid ideals.

"As Jews and South African citizens, we cannot but view these developments with the deepest unhappiness," board chairman Michael Bagraim said in a statement.

Kasrils used his visit to "reiterate the commitment of the South African Government towards the achievement, through peaceful negotiations, of a two-state solution based on a viable Palestinian state on the 1967 borders," the minister's statement said.

Since becoming Palestinian prime minister in March 2006, Haniyeh has visited Arab states, some Gulf states and Iran, but he has not travelled beyond that
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  1.   WHY JEWISH MINISTER, NOT SOUTH AFRICAN MINISITER 13:44  |  MARCO 07/05/07
  2.   Is Ronnie Kasrils a Communist? 13:46  |  Johnny Weintraub 07/05/07
  3.   Haniyah can promote a final solution to the Israeli problem 14:44  |  Elvis Kasrils 07/05/07
  4.   Kasrils,Pres Mandela never said All Jews must be Killed-getit 15:16  |  Alan SA 07/05/07
  5.   if he were israeli 15:35  |  michael 07/05/07
  6.   To fake racist Elvis 15:35  |  Lasting peace 07/05/07
  7.   Ronnie & Elvis Kasrils 15:36  |  Doron 07/05/07
  8.   Kasrils, Arafat and Peres 15:38  |  Shmuel 07/05/07
  9.   You know Marco 15:42  |  Lasting peace 07/05/07
  10.   DID YOU CORRECTLY SPELL KASRILS` NAME? 15:45  |  Jay A Friedman 07/05/07
  11.   Well said Elvis 15:46  |  Marco 07/05/07
  12.   Antisems say Jews killed Jesus then say Jews never lived in IL 15:51  |  Alan SA 07/05/07
  13.   michael 15:55  |  rich 07/05/07
  14.   Elvis 16:05  |  Molotov 07/05/07
  15.   Extend the invitation to Abbas 16:07  |  Lynn 07/05/07
  16.   Enough with the stupid analogy 16:24  |  Michael O. 07/05/07
  17.   In view of the present horrible situation in SA... 16:30  |  Mr. Anonymous 07/05/07
  18.   Ron Kasrils is an old-style Communist but Elvis isn`t his brother 16:40  |  Fairplay 07/05/07
  19.   Elvis is alive and well in S. Africa- shameful namesake 16:46  |  Avrum 07/05/07
  20.   Zionist can`t face the truth 16:47  |  MA 07/05/07
  21.   Israel-Firsters hate the concept of DIALOGUE 16:47  |  Ibrahim 07/05/07
  22.   kasril`s logic 16:56  |  scallywag 07/05/07
  23.   #3 final solution ? Great words 16:58  |  Joseph 07/05/07
  24.   Had he been a of Philistine descent... 17:00  |  ScotGuy 07/05/07
  25.   marco # 1 and 11 17:08  |  scallywag 07/05/07
  26.   South Africa speaking from experience 17:12  |  Tosefta 07/05/07
  27.   #16 - Enough with the stupid analogy- well said! 17:34  |  South African 07/05/07
  28.   Lazar Kaganovich was also Jewish minister 17:35  |  Gene 07/05/07
  29.   they loved aparthied and hamas 17:36  |  SJF 07/05/07
  30.   South Africa`s Jewish Board of Deputies 17:43  |  Yaakov Sullivan 07/05/07
  31.   Ibrahim #21 17:47  |  Polybios 07/05/07
  32.   Dont worry 18:07  |  kevin 07/05/07
  33.   yaakov sullivan 18:09  |  rich 07/05/07
  34.   Jewish S.African 18:10  |  Jane 07/05/07
  35.   MA 18:12  |  rich 07/05/07
  36.   ma # 20 18:14  |  scallywag 07/05/07
  37.   ibrahim # 21 18:16  |  scallywag 07/05/07
  38.   Scallywag - re: Mandela 18:18  |  Stephen Connor 07/05/07
  39.   Michael O. - Analogies 18:30  |  Stephen Connor 07/05/07
  40.   # 2 Johnny Weintraub. These type of Jews are Ubiquitous... 18:31  |  Kath` 07/05/07
  41.   South African #27 18:31  |  Stephen Connor 07/05/07
  42.   jews can be proud in south africa 18:34  |  michael 07/05/07
  43.   SJF IN JERUSALEM 18:35  |  Stephen Connor 07/05/07
  44.   let Hamas smell the air of non-racist, non-sexist South Africa 18:37  |  John Strawson 07/05/07
  45.   `# 3 Elvis Kasrils.HEY ARE YOU FOR REAL??? 18:38  |  Kath` 07/05/07
  46.   JUDAISM IS ONLY A RELIGION 18:42  |  Marilyn 07/05/07
  47.   # 28 Gene. NOT ONLY THE JEWS,BUT........ 18:43  |  Kath` 07/05/07
  48.   stephen connor #38 18:45  |  scallywag 07/05/07
  49.   They deserve each other 18:46  |  Sidney 07/05/07
  50.   elvis kasrils #3 18:48  |  scallywag 07/05/07
  51.   marilyn #46 18:54  |  scallywag 07/05/07
  52.   KASRILS FEEDS ON HATRED 19:07  |  HAL TRIPP 07/05/07
  53.   No, Tosefta, that is NOT what Hamas 19:12  |  Lynn 07/05/07
  54.   # 26 Tosefta. Experience??What are you talking about? 19:14  |  Kath` 07/05/07
  55.   Great answer, scallywag post #51 19:17  |  Polybios 07/05/07
  56.   To Stephen Connor - Cooler, saner heads. 19:24  |  Michael O. 07/05/07
  57.   "Elvis" #3 19:34  |  Serge 07/05/07
  58.   Yaakov Sullivan 19:37  |  Edifice 07/05/07
  59.   Scallywag from Almania 19:37  |  Ibrahim 07/05/07
  60.   Sullivan, have you changed your mind and do you now 19:38  |  Beni 07/05/07
  61.   Reading carefully (Lynn #53) 19:41  |  Tosefta 07/05/07
  62.   Polybios.... 19:42  |  Ibrahim 07/05/07
  63.   Learning from experience (Kathy #54) 19:47  |  Tosefta 07/05/07
  64.   Stephen Connor spreading myths 19:52  |  Michael O. 07/05/07
  65.   Kasrils, Elvis and Anarchy 19:58  |  Lion613 07/05/07
  66.   Reuters get their facts wrong again 20:07  |  Simon 07/05/07
  67.   The South African reality 20:09  |  Yoni D 07/05/07
  68.   Poor Tosefta,I`ve got news for you:Sweden and SA cooperated milit 20:14  |  Absolute Sweden 07/05/07
  69.   to elvis re: jewish nation 20:32  |  JEHIEL CHALEFF 07/05/07
  70.   Ronnie Kasrils a communist Neturei Karta 20:42  |  Chick Corea 07/05/07
  71.   Edifice on his facts #58 20:48  |  Yaakov Sullivan 07/05/07
  72.   What do you think, Beni?? 20:49  |  Yaakov Sullivan 07/05/07
  73.   Why the debate? Kasrils is an anti-semite! Like all critics. 20:52  |  Toronto`s Finest 07/05/07
  74.   ibrahim #59 20:58  |  scallywag 07/05/07
  75.   Are these sob brothers jewish? 21:03  |  misha 07/05/07
  76.   The forest, the trees, and the clouds (Absolute Sweden #68) 21:06  |  Tosefta 07/05/07
  77.   Israeli apologists are looking more stupid by the minute 21:13  |  Joe 07/05/07
  78.   Scallywag...please. 21:16  |  Ibrahim 07/05/07
  79.   # 63 Tosefta.You don`t have to reply,but you twisted what I said. 21:17  |  Kath` 07/05/07
  80.   Marilyn of Australia, 21:33  |  David Israel 07/05/07
  81.   the wicked son 21:37  |  noah 07/05/07
  82.   # 41 Stephen Connor 21:38  |  ChanahS 07/05/07
  83.   Ibrahim from Michigan 21:39  |  David Israel 07/05/07
  84.   history lessons-jews should fight for jewish cause 21:45  |  misha 07/05/07
  85.   Haniyeh, just must invite Kasrils for a Gaza fling 21:57  |  Smearnov 07/05/07
  86.   The Jews are a people not just a relgion 21:59  |  zody 07/05/07
  87.   Kasrils is no paradygm for anything 22:31  |  Fortuna Benmayor 07/05/07
  88.   Michael O. has it superbly 22:34  |  Fortuna Benmayor 07/05/07
  89.   David Israel....you are mistaken 22:40  |  Ibrahim 07/05/07
  90.   Yaakov Sullivan 22:43  |  Edifice 07/05/07
  91.   ibrahim #76 22:47  |  scallywag 07/05/07
  92.   zody of new york and the irish catholic state #86 22:55  |  Yaakov Sullivan 07/05/07
  93.   #46 Hey there Marilyn!! 22:57  |  ballistic 07/05/07
  94.   momzer 22:57  |  misha 07/05/07
  95.   Scallywag....you must be unfamiliar.... 23:03  |  Ibrahim 07/05/07
  96.   I challenge you to prove otherwise #90 23:04  |  Yaakov Sullivan 07/05/07
  97.   Hypocrite Kasrils 23:04  |  Elder of Ziyon 07/05/07
  98.   Here everything is near, so we rather be myopic 23:15  |  Alain 07/05/07
  99.   scalawag on hamas and negotiations #91 23:16  |  Yaakov Sullivan 07/05/07
  100.   Makes sense 23:19  |  Dicky Burns 07/05/07
  101.   Elvis, Ronnie & hypocrisy. 23:20  |  curious 07/05/07
  102.   Ibrahim and blatant lying # 89 23:20  |  ChanahS 07/05/07
  103.   # 51 scallywag. I sent you a response,but Haaretz did not put it 23:25  |  Kath` 07/05/07
  104.   #77 Hey there Joe; right you are and 23:33  |  ballistic 07/05/07
  105.   SA has never forgiven Israel 23:33  |  paul 07/05/07
  106.   Anyone welcoming Hamas is a RACIST, including self haters 23:35  |  David 07/05/07
  107.   #20, MA, Hamas charter calls for killing Jews..thats peaceful? 23:38  |  David 07/05/07
  108.   Haniyeh should feel very comfortable,armed thugs roam the streets 23:39  |  PETER SM 07/05/07
  109.   who is a jew? 23:41  |  maria 07/05/07
  110.   #86 Zody. That`s why we were sent into exile a few times! 23:45  |  Toronto`s Finest 07/05/07
  111.   Poor Tosefta,holding pro-ANC speeches and supplyying White SA 23:51  |  Absolute Sweden 07/05/07
  112.   KASRILS uses Mandelas` name.Mandela was never a hater! 00:02  |  PETER SM 08/05/07
  113.   Ronnie Will Get a Proper Greeting From Haniyeh As a Jew 00:04  |  Yoram 08/05/07
  114.   Toseftas tendentiousness 00:31  |  Danite 08/05/07
  115.   Is it true that South Africa also supports Sudanese Apartheid? 00:33  |  Left wing guy 08/05/07
  116.   David Israel 2000 camp David 00:43  |  John 08/05/07
  117.   #40 "our society" 01:07  |  Maureen Ann 08/05/07
  118.   REspond to# 3 01:10  |  Tobia 08/05/07
  119.   Not one post understands that Mandela+ANC didnt want to kill Jews 01:16  |  Alan South Africa 08/05/07
  120.   EDIFICE.The truth is irrelevant. 01:17  |  PETER SM 08/05/07
  121.   #94 David 01:18  |  Boycott 08/05/07
  122.   In the Photo,Kasrils is promisingAbbas he`ll go to Weightwatchers 01:19  |  Alan SA 08/05/07
  123.   #100 Peter SM 01:21  |  Boycott 08/05/07
  124.   Jewish S African minister slams critics 01:24  |  Harry Lieberman 08/05/07
  125.   #93 Paul 01:24  |  Boycott 08/05/07
  126.   Trontos finest Thats Satmar not Sutmar & he represents how many? 01:29  |  PETER. S.M 08/05/07
  127.   27SOUTH AFRICAN, you may know something about your own struggle 01:38  |  lakshmi 08/05/07
  128.   Michael O. - Cooler, saner heads. 01:48  |  StephenConnor 08/05/07
  129.   Kath #63 - not bad.... 01:53  |  dana 08/05/07
  130.   danite - ANC has a chequered past 02:13  |  Pssd Off American 08/05/07
  131.   They support Mugabe, why not haniyeh? 02:17  |  bernard ross 08/05/07
  132.   #124 Lieberman 02:44  |  Pssd Off American 08/05/07
  133.   Pissed of american 02:46  |  Danite 08/05/07
  134.   "Yaakovs libels"(3rd try please) 02:49  |  Danite 08/05/07
  135.   lakshmi 03:07  |  Danite 08/05/07
  136.   BOYCOTT has he had anything to say about Islamist racists 03:35  |  PETER SM 08/05/07
  137.   MAUREEN Ann Cluelessly sloganeering for the haters. 04:03  |  PETER SM 08/05/07
  138.   a wanderfull company 04:12  |  misha 08/05/07
  139.   83DAVID ISRAEL, Camp David was a fraudulent attempt by Clinton- 04:31  |  lakshmi 08/05/07
  140.   68 ABSOLUTE SWEDEN,Chaim Weismann was close friend with Jan Smuts 04:39  |  lakshmi 08/05/07
  141.   BOYCOTT#121 Do you Boycott Islamist murderers or do Moslems only 04:40  |  PETER SM 08/05/07
  142.   Boycott #93 05:05  |  Bruce 08/05/07
  143.   And when the dust settles: "All other forces pass, but the Jew re 05:36  |  Leena Ades 08/05/07
  144.   As Hamas celebrated their victory... 05:44  |  Leena Ades 08/05/07
  145.   Sullivan, Israel is a nation-state of a people not of a religion! 06:27  |  Beni 08/05/07
  146.   hamas employs....... 06:58  |  maria 08/05/07
  147.   Boycott.the boycotter wannabbe fix this "Azaris Jailed-- 07:42  |  PETER SM 08/05/07
  148.   Ronnie Kasrils call to boycott Israel though 08:19  |  Ilan 08/05/07
  149.   ibrahim #95 08:59  |  scallywag 08/05/07
  150.   yaakov sullivan #99 09:02  |  scallywag 08/05/07
  151.   Lakshmi,your Ghandi was urging Jews to commit suicide in concentr 09:31  |  Absolute Sweden 08/05/07
  152.   Kasrils is a great man 10:17  |  mehmet 08/05/07
  153.   kath` #103 14:03  |  scallywag 08/05/07
  154.   Scallywag...a few suggestions 16:27  |  Ibrahim 08/05/07
  155.   U all seem to Forget 20:46  |  Billy 08/05/07
  156.   Ronnie Kasrils 00:36  |  John Atkinson 09/05/07
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