When Ebrahim Rasool was in the Netherlands for the first time, in 1990, he was here to thank the Dutch. For years, the then 28-year-old South African had fought against apartheid, and according to him, the support of the Dutch people had been indispensable in the abolition of the system of racial segregation.
The Southern Africa Committee and the Netherlands Anti-Apartheid Movement in particular were crucial in gaining public support for a boycott of his country, Rasool said during a conversation in Amsterdam, where he gave a speech on Africa Day on Saturday. “The later generation of Dutch people made up for what their ancestors had caused.”
The activist Rasool would later become a politician and diplomat. This spring, he made headlines worldwide when, as ambassador in Washington, he was expelled from the country by President Donald Trump’s government. Officially because he said during a meeting with a think tank that Trump “reinforces racial superiority claims” and “white victimization as a veiled message [probeert] to deploy”.
What did you mean by those allegations against Trump?
“Trump claims that there is a ‘white genocide’ taking place in South Africa. That is a lie, and one with consequences. Because my country is allegedly committing genocide against white people, the United States is withdrawing subsidies for HIV drugs, climate change and health, and imposing high tariffs on our country. That’s why I had to go on the offensive.”
Your critics say: shouldn’t the ambassador have expressed himself more diplomatically?
“Diplomacy is the art of always telling the truth. Never in a rude or rude way. I did not call Trump a racist, but found that his conspiracy theory is harmful. The only thing I could have done to make my message more diplomatic was to remain silent.”
You had previously been ambassador to Washington, during the presidency of Barack Obama. Did you know what awaited you in your second term?
“Certainly. Even before I had said yes to the job, Israel-oriented groups in the US started agitating against my possible appointment. The pro-Israel lobby group Aipac, Trump’s MAGA movement and the populist news site Breitbart started calling me a Hamas supporter and an Islamist. This must have surprised the Jewish community in South Africa: they know me as someone who fought anti-Semitism and commemorated Auschwitz.
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“In the end, my comments at that think tank were a pretext to throw me out. I think my position on Israel was more decisive. The accusation of anti-Semitism is poisonous. Am I an anti-Semite because I support my country’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice? Rather discuss the hundreds of pages of facts that we have presented.”
Do you see a connection between the situation in South Africa under the apartheid regime and the situation in Israel and Palestine?
“Certainly, I see a direct connection. It was South Africans who first noticed that apartheid also exists in Israel and Palestine. The situation is even worse there: white Afrikaners have never thrown bombs on Soweto or built separate roads for blacks.
“But it’s not just about Israel for me. I see a creeping entrance of apartheid thinking into right-wing politics worldwide. Look at the US, where brown and black people are arrested and thrown out of the country and white Afrikaners are given asylum because they are said to be an endangered group. In that respect, I was relieved by the Dutch election results. Realize: Geert Wilders is not alone. He is a disciple of Trump, a soulmate of Marine Le Pen, a student of Viktor Orbán.”
Do you consider the case at the International Court of Justice to be promising?
“I am optimistic because most judges accept the evidence presented. But the most important thing is the battle for public opinion. Our approach has reverberated around the world. Public opinion everywhere is pressuring governments to act against Israel. Israel has to pay influencers thousands of dollars per post in an attempt to correct that. Winning the case would be fantastic, but we have already won.”
In 1990 you praised the Dutch for their contribution to a boycott of South Africa. What do you think of the Dutch government’s attitude towards Israel?
“Don’t forget that the Dutch governments from the 1960s to the 1980s were not immediately eager to withdraw investments in South Africa. Only after pressure from citizens was the government willing to put the financial benefits aside.
“The Dutch government may not be there yet, but I also see public pressure increasing with regard to Gaza. Universities are cutting ties with institutions that support the genocide. Then the banks and the financial sector will follow, just like in the fight against apartheid. The Oscar goes to the citizens. Governments that ultimately take measures will receive the prize for best supporting actor.”
You gave a sermon in a mosque in Rotterdam on Friday. What did you say there?
“I talked about the integration of Muslims into society. In South Africa this has been quite successful: they are part of society, not a separate group. I argue for mutual respect between migrants and the people who already lived there. Muslims should not isolate themselves, but learn the language and participate in society. Perhaps both groups do not cheer for each other’s way of life, but you should embrace each other’s humanity. In that respect, I was happy to hear that preaching is usually done in Dutch in those mosque. That is a good step.”
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