Why Israel matters to me — and to us all

Tshego Motaung shares her personal journey from accepting the popular anti-Israel narrative on campus to encountering and responding to the truth in God’s Word

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet — Isaiah 62:1

In 2009-2010 I was awarded a scholarship to study a masters in global political economy in the United Kingdom. I found myself at the University of Sussex, which was not my first choice, but now, in hindsight. I understand why I ended up there.

Anyone who has ever been a student would know that, students are usually preoccupied with trying to make new friends, figuring out study timetables, locating lecture halls and where to eat; it is not a time to try to engage students on a very serious political campaign.

Shortly after orientation week early in October, there was a weeklong commemoration of the role Sussex University played in support of the anti-apartheid movement of South Africa. This obviously appealed to me, being an activist at heart. I was moved to hear that Sussex University students supported the liberation movement of South Africa. I knew that some of our current leaders – including former President Mbeki — were students at that university but this commemoration, plus the Hall named after our former president Mandela made me feel more at home.

As it would be expected, this group of students became my buddies on campus as we shared a love for my nation.  Little did I know that a few weeks later they would launch another campaign – this time to boycott Israel, calling it an apartheid state. During the boycott Israel campaign they played a clip of late Archbishop Tutu, saying Israel reminded him of apartheid. I must admit I was completely clueless on this subject. But since they were my newfound friends on campus I supported them – and in the spirit of respecting the elders, I figured the Archbishop knew better than me on this matter.

On October 28 2009, a referendum was held at the university on whether or not to boycott Israeli products from our campus. By this time academic pressure was beginning to build up and since I was not convicted on this issue, I didn’t vote, and just supported my friends.

A total of 1 012 students from a student population of about 11 000 participated in this vote, which is less than 10%. And 562 (55.5%) of those who participated, voted to boycott Israel on campus. Our university became the first in the UK to implement a full boycott of Israeli goods through referendum, according to the BDS Movement news report.

It is only in hindsight that I discovered that the events that played out on our campus were not random or just inspired by student zeal and love for the people of Palestine. This was part of a well-coordinated series of events organised by the global movement to boycott Israel, and it was timed perfectly to ensure new students didn’t get enough time to organise themselves to stop the vote.  

Israel revealed
I completed my studies and returned home. As I began to grow in my Christian walk, the Bible came alive to me and I discovered God’s love and commitment to Israel. I began to appreciate the Jewish people, and the establishment of the State of Israel as a fulfilment of biblical prophecy.

One morning, during my time of devotion, I was confronted by the Scripture below, and I went on to discover many other Scriptures [see some of them below] that speak specifically on how God will judge nations and people based on their treatment of Israel.

“For violence against your brother Jacob (Israel), Shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever. In the day that you stood on the other side — In the day that strangers carried captive his forces, when foreigners entered his gates. And cast lots for Jerusalem — even you were as one of them. “But you should not have gazed on the day of your brother In the day of his captivity; nor should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah In the day of their destruction;  Nor should you have spoken proudly In the day of distress.” — Obadiah 10-14.

In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land. — Joel 3:1-2

Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it. — Zechariah 12:2-3

Immediately I understood that my silence while Israel was boycotted on our university campus was not a small matter. In hindsight, I realised that being a South African on campus at that time, I could have spoken up for Israel with more credibility because apartheid is our story. Many people like me, have found themselves in support of a pro-Palestinian cause without honestly understanding what it means.

Since that time, I decided that I was not going to keep silent anymore and in the small spaces I find myself, I do my best to share about Israel. The work has grown over years from supporting various Israel initiatives, to leading a platform that prays for the Peace of Jerusalem every week. This platform has  become a place of enlightenment on this subject. This past June I coordinated a group tour to Israel,  which is a whole testimony on its own.

This work has not been on big platforms or loud, like mighty rivers – but can be compared to the drip irrigation water system of Israel. While it may not be visible from a distance, it has been like a consistent drip supply of water that has produced much fruit over the years. Many families, since we began, have developed a deep love for Israel.

So, it doesn’t matter the noise made by politicians – the truth has been engraved in our hearts and this cannot be shaken. We stand with Israel. We love Israel. We refuse to be told by politicians how to interpret Scripture. Israel means Israel, and Israel stands for Israel in the Bible.

South African government position
The South African government’s position on Israel has been quite distressing for some time now and it does not make sense. Israel’s neighbouring countries like Egypt, Jordan and UAE are not making the level of noise that is coming out of South Africa, or calling for diplomatic ties with Israel to be cut.

Our government’s official position is supposed to be that of non-alignment but when it comes to Israel it leads the continent in condemning Israel. This is the government that has failed to speak out against human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, or to intervene there in a meaningful way. Just recently this government was in hot water over its alleged support for Russia. Our leaders had a difficult time trying to convince skeptical critics of its claims of neutrality.

Our governments’ hostile position on Israel has created a fertile ground for antisemitism in our nation, and has emboldened those who want to intimidate and threaten supporters of Israel. Their voices are loud and they speak with boldness as if they have received a mandate from the whole nation. They have no such mandate. There are  many who love Israel and stand with Israel, and in this season we will not be silent.

“Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews.  For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”  Esther 4:13-14

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