South African chief rabbi slams government’s support for Iran as Middle East conflict escalates

“For Israel this war against Iran is a fight for survival. To stop its annihilation. To stop another Holocaust,” the Jewish leader said in his video statement.

By Ailin Vilches Arguello, The Algemeiner

South African Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein has lambasted the government for defending Iran and downplaying threats to Israel — part of what the country’s Jewish community has long denounced as an increasingly hostile stance toward the Jewish state.

“It’s disgraceful … but, not unexpected, that the South African government came to Iran’s defense, stating there was no imminent threat to Israel or the West from Iran,” Goldstein said in a video posted on X on Monday.

“Iran fights back by launching missiles at Israel’s civilian centers, condemnation for which is, as expected, muted in the international media and community of nations,” the Jewish leader continued.

Last week, Israel launched a broad preemptive attack on Iran, targeting military installations and nuclear sites across the country in what officials described as an effort to neutralize an imminent nuclear threat.

The ongoing Israeli strikes killed several of Iran’s top military commanders and nuclear scientists and dealt a major blow to the country’s retaliatory capabilities, destroying not only much of its ballistic missile stockpiles but also crippling its launch platforms.

On Friday, South African authorities expressed “profound concern” over Israel’s military campaign against Iran and extended their “sincere condolences to the Iranian government and the families of all victims.”

“These actions raise serious concerns under international law, including the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the protection of civilians enshrined in the UN Charter and international humanitarian law,” Chrispin Phiri, spokesperson for South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, said in a statement.

“We reiterate our unwavering commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes. South Africa urges maximum restraint by all parties and calls for the urgent intensification of diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and promote stability in the Middle East,” Phiri continued.

In his video posted to social media, Goldstein said there is ample evidence that Iran was just weeks away from acquiring nuclear weapons, noting that the Israeli strike came on day 62 of the 60-day window US President Donald Trump had given Tehran to reach a nuclear deal.

“Israel’s strike on Iran was a 1-minute-to midnight action to head off the annihilation of the Jewish state, and prevent another Holocaust,” Goldstein said.

After five rounds of talks between the US and Iran, diplomatic efforts stalled as the two adversaries clashed over Tehran’s insistence on maintaining its domestic uranium enrichment program — a demand that Trump had publicly rejected.

“For Israel this war against Iran is a fight for survival. To stop its annihilation. To stop another Holocaust,” the Jewish leader said in his video statement.

“Had Iran been able to develop a nuclear bomb and announce it via a successful test, it would have been too late to launch a preemptive strike. The stakes would have been too high, and Iran would have gained the leverage to completely shift the balance of power, both in the Middle East and globally,” Goldstein continued.

Iranian leaders regularly declare their intention of destroying Israel and have for decades supplied internationally designated terrorist groups, such as Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, with weapons and funding to attack the Jewish state.

Nonetheless, South Africa’s Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe said earlier this year that his country would consider partnering with Iran for expanding its civilian nuclear power capacity.

Amid the ongoing diplomatic deadlock between Tehran and Washington, Israel had previously declared it would never allow the Islamist regime to acquire nuclear weapons, as the country views Iran’s nuclear program — which Tehran insists is solely for civilian purposes — as an existential threat.

“Everyone knows that Iran must be disarmed but none has Israel’s courage to do what must be done,” Goldstein said. “But if they won’t help, they should at least express their gratitude to the brave government, soldiers, pilots, and people of Israel for what they are doing to make this world safe.”

Since the Hamas-led invasion of and massacre across southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, the South African government has been one of the most vocal critics of the Jewish state on the international stage, repeatedly targeting Jerusalem through diplomatic actions.

Since December 2023, South Africa has been pursuing its case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of committing “state-led genocide” in its defensive war against the Palestinian terrorist group in Gaza.