The Transnational Old Farts Israel-Haters Club
Be afraid. Be very afraid. The Israel-haters and anti-Americans have a new club.
Nelson Mandela and five other senior statesmen will today form themselves into a team of international troubleshooters called “The Elders”.
The initiative, funded by Sir Richard Branson, will be launched in Johannesburg during celebrations marking Mr Mandela’s 89th birthday.
The former South African president, who spent 27 years behind bars during the apartheid era, is a figure with unparalleled moral authority.
The idea is that he will team up with Jimmy Carter, the former US president, Kofi Annan, the former United Nations secretary-general, Mary Robinson, the former Irish president, Desmond Tutu, the Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town and Mohammed Yunus, the Nobel Laureate and founder of the Green Bank in Bangladesh.
Okay, I don’t actually know much about Mohammed Yunus beyond his Nobel Peace prize for giving microloans to the poor (an idea which I wholeheartedly support) so they can create their own businesses and be poor no more. He gets a bye. But the others?
The membership of The Elders has been carefully chosen. Each one is a non-partisan figure with a rolodex packed with international contacts.
“This group can speak freely and boldly, working both publicly and behind the scenes on whatever actions need to be taken,” said Mr Mandela in a statement.
Shyeah. I’ll bet they’re going to speak freely, and it will mostly be against Israel and the United States. Here’s a look at their previous [kaff] non-partisanship:
Mary Robinson, who led the UN Human Rights Commission during the infamous Durban conference: Anti-Israel. Anti-Israel. Anti-Israel.
Jimmy Carter, whose latest anti-Israel screed is a best-seller: Anti-Israel. Anti-Israel. Anti-Israel.
Nelson Mandela, who never met a Palestinian terrorist he didn’t like: Anti-Israel. Anti-American.
Desmond Tutu, who thinks all the world’s problems can be traced to the U.S. and Israel: Anti-Israel. Anti-Israel. Anti-Semitic?
Non-partisan my ass. I suppose the best thing I can say about this new “council of elders” is that with any luck, they’ll be dropping like flies due to their advanced ages.
Exit question: How long before their first anti-Israel statement is released? Let’s start a pool.
