Israel Derangement Syndrome – Pulling out the Hitler card

If you’re triggered by a laptop case, displaying an Israeli flag, then it’s safe to believe you are probably suffering from an acute case of Israel Derangement Syndrome.

This was the absurd situation which recently occurred at a city council meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, when one councilor became infuriated by the laptop case of his colleague, which exhibited the Israeli flag with a Star of David, claiming that it was inflammatory, since “it represented the killing of innocent women and children.”

Of course, the choice of this particular laptop case would not be unusual for its owner who is both Jewish and a supporter of Israel. But for Councilor Tebogo Nkonkou, the offense was so outrageous, that he threatened to wear a shirt with Nazi leader, Adolf Hitler’s face emblazoned on it if that laptop case continued to be brought to future meetings. 

Although Speaker Nobuhle Mthembu, who presided over the gathering, was quick to admit that Nkonkou was “setting a bad example,” Nkonkou continued to disrupt the proceedings by shouting out, “We want Hitler.”

Here's what is so preposterous about this incident. The Jewish councilor, Daniel Schay, was castigated for a computer case representing his personal loyalties and affections for the homeland of his people. The likelihood that he purchased the case as a deliberate means to offend others, is probably almost zero.

To the contrary, however, Nkonkou’s childish response, threatening to wear a shirt displaying the face of Hitler would surely be meant to engender harsh feelings by any Jews who would see it, not to mention the shocked response of most sane individuals who view Hitler as the worst person that ever lived. 

So why would anyone sport such a controversial visual, even as a means of retaliatory offense, because to walk around with such an image on one’s chest, also identifies them as someone who is willing to be accompanied by the face of evil in order to make others feel uncomfortable – all as a way to win the battle of provocation

Nkonkou, with no intention of hiding his feelings, openly stated, “We really can’t stand this flag,” referring to it as reflecting an apartheid country. Of course, the fallacious claim does not take into account that Israel provides one of the highest standards of living and opportunity for advancement for its Arab citizens and residents, even beyond other countries in the region. The fact that Arabs hold such positions in Israel as judges, Knesset members, professors, doctors and other prestigious roles seems to be lost by Nkonkou’s ignorance of what life is really like in the country he accuses of implementing apartheid measures.

Rather than focusing his ire on the horrific murders of Syria’s Christian minority, taking place at this moment in time, or acknowledging the savage slaughtering of 1200 innocents, on Israeli soil, many of whom were helpless children and babies, Nkonkou accuses Israel of perpetrating its own genocide against Gazan children – yet more evidence that the man has been infected by IDS (Israel Derangement Syndrome).

But Nkonkou was not alone as other councilors joined the verbal protest, “decrying the ‘racist flag’ and chanting, ‘From the river to the sea, free free Palestine,’” As if that wasn’t offensive! Because such a slogan promotes real genocide, since that is the only way that Jews will be separated from their ancestral homeland. 

In response to this highly-charged despicable confrontation, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies stated that “such remarks are not only morally repugnant but also legally indefensible.” Reminding everyone that “South Africa is a country built on the principles of democracy, inclusivity and respect for human rights,” it goes without saying that the lack of sensitivity and dignity, towards the sole Jewish councilor, testifies to a deeply troubling undercurrent of ethnic hatred that exists towards Israel and Jews by many of these leaders.

Vilified and held up to be the worst abuser of human rights, South Africa felt compelled to bring charges against Israel before the International Criminal Courts at the Hague, back in December, 2023, with the accusation of having committed a genocide, rather than fighting back in self-defense after having been brutally attacked on October 7th.

But for a country which honored Palestinian terrorist, Leila Khaled, by renaming a road after her, why wouldn’t they have a deluded and skewed viewpoint about the only democracy in the entire Middle East?

In a pathetic attempt to defend the terrorist, Nkonkou stated that “Leila Khaled became a symbol across the continents as a revolutionary, a freedom fighter and a symbol of resistance against imperialism – an icon of armed struggle as she risked everything to show the world that the oppressed will not accept anything quietly.” Still revered today, Khaled hijacked an airplane in 1969, hoping to draw attention to her cause.

Is this not a classic example of blindness fueled by hatred? The inability to identify morality from immorality? Honoring heinous deeds by whitewashing them as worthy acts is not only unconscionable but also speaks of a depravity which has gripped the hearts of people who actually suffer from an incurable malady. The insanity has reached the point of invoking Hitler, calling for his return and portraying terrorists as the new good guys.

Can anyone come back from that kind of deluded perspective? Probably not, because it represents an acceptance of dark and evil deeds, calling them virtuous and upright. 

It is this kind of insidious division which is able to bring down an entire nation, despite the thousands of South Africans who neither support these upside-down positions nor the leaders who bring false charges against Israel.  

Sadly, at that same meeting, a motion was rejected to reverse the name change of the street honoring the terrorist, despite a petition signed by 5,000 residents requesting such a move. One might say that the handwriting is on the wall for the Jewish community of South Africa, numbering over 52,000, which is at the mercy of those who view terrorists as heroes and the democratic nation of Israel, defending herself, as being guilty of genocide.

The prophet Isaiah wrote about this phenomenon, saying “Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil, that put darkness for light and light for darkness.” Isaiah 5:20

This is exactly what is happening before our eyes as the sickness of Israel Derangement Syndrome is responsible for the lack of proper reasoning and the inability to discern right from wrong.