50 facts about Nelson Mandela and the Jewish community: 11-20

11. The Jewish 1986 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Eli Wiesel, refers to the imprisonment of Mandela as a ‘disgrace’ in his acceptance spee ch of the award.[divider]

12. February 1990 – the South African Jewish Board of Deputies hails Mandela’s release from prison, a sentiment echoed by the international Jewish community.[divider]

13. February 1990 – Mandela meets and publically embraces Yasser Arafat.[divider]

14. February 1990 – Mandela slams the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, describing it as akin to Apartheid in South Africa and states that: “If the truth alienates the powerful Jewish community in South Africa, that’s too bad”.[divider]

15. 1990 – Israel Maisels scolded Mandela saying “I did not save your life at the Treason Trial so that you could associate with Israel’s enemies”.[divider]

16. June 1990 – Prior to his visit to the U.S, Mandela repairs relations with American Jewish leaders, apologising for past comments that may have caused offence in a meeting described as “warm, friendly and cordial”.[divider]

17. June 1990 – During his U.S visit, Mandela calls Arafat a “comrade in arms”.[divider]

18. June 1990 – During his U.S visit, Mandela and Sharansky finally meet in California though the latter fails to sway Mandela’s opinion on the PLO.[divider]

19. August 1990 – Mandela is questioned by a South African Jewish student about ties between the ANC and the PLO, he replied: “Your enemies are not my enemies…We will continue to determine our attitudes to any country, toward anyone, on the basis of their attitude toward our own struggle”.[divider]

20. September 1990 – Mandela, wearing a kippah, speaks at a Reform synagogue in Johannesburg saying: “If Zionism means the right of the Jewish people to seize territory and deny the Palestinian people the right to self-determination, we condemn it”[divider]

Be sure to check back tomorrow for more facts about Nelson Mandela and his relationship with the Jewish community!