The Economist, reviewing Sasha Polakow-Suransky’s book on Israel and South Africa (unsigned), appears to accept the conclusion that Israel will face South Africa’s fate. In essence, The Economist accepts the premise of the comparison as valid and worthy of noting. Excerpt:
That the collaboration became so deep and long-lasting testifies to how realpolitik can mutate into Weltanschauung, the word the Nazis used for a “world view”. Nazi sympathisers may have helped propel the architects of apartheid to power, but letters between Jewish Israeli and white South African leaders, quoted in “The Unspoken Alliance”, illustrate a shared conviction: here were two small nations surrounded by hostile hordes, fighting for their land and identity, standing as bulwarks against Soviet empire-building. Even after it too adopted its own sanctions against South Africa in 1987, Israel made sure not to touch existing arms contracts, worth hundreds of millions of dollars a year, which ran until shortly before apartheid ended in 1994.
This is a deft, pacy and revealing account, and for the most part, admirably dispassionate. It strays into polemic only in the epilogue, where the author warns that Israel may face South Africa’s fate if it does not mend its behaviour towards the Palestinians. Judging by their fury at Mr Goldstone, Israeli officials know this all too well—but still think they can bluster their way out.
