Maravi

(NEWZIMBABWE) AAG meets Israel’s chief rabbi

AAG meets Israel’s chief rabbi
Welcome ... Tafadzwa Musarara with the Chief Rabbi
by Staff Reporter
06/11/2010 00:00:00

THE Affirmative Action Group (AAG) has met the Israel chief rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar in Jerusalem as it steps up its diplomatic offensive to get Zimbabwe’s right to deal freely with its diamond resources re-asserted.

AAG President Supa Mandiwanzira and secretary general Tafadzwa Musarara met the Israel chief rabbi at his private residence in the holy city of Jerusalem. The chief rabbi is to the Jewish people what the pope is to the Roman Catholics. He is the supreme halakhic and spiritual authority for the Jewish people in Israel.

The AAG leaders refused to disclose how they arranged such a high level meeting.

“I can confirm that we met the chief rabbi late Thursday night in Jerusalem and the meeting was special. He is a man revered by the Jewish people across the world but has exceptional humility,” said AAG president Supa Mandiwanzira in a telephone interview from Tel Aviv, Israel.

He said the AAG asked the Chief Rabbi to use his influence and religious authority by talking to countries like the United States to stop standing in the way of Zimbabwe trying to exploit its natural resources for the benefit of its people.

At the just ended Kimberley Process plenary meetings in Jerusalem, the US with the support of Canada and Australia desperately tried to frustrate Zimbabwe’s right to unconditionally sell its diamonds from Marange to the chagrin of African, South American and Asian countries that make up Kimberley Process.

“I told the Chief Rabbi that Zimbabwe was a peaceful country that seeks only friendship and economic cooperation with all countries of the world including the United States, Canada, Australia and members of the European Union.

“I asked him to please assist in talking to some of these countries to stop being fixated with our country and work harmoniously with our government,” Mandiwanzira said.

Secretary General Tafadzwa Musarara told the Chief Rabbi that the AAG would be most grateful if he visited the country to see for himself.

He told the Chief Rabbi that a small but very active Jewish community in Zimbabwe was doing a lot of charitable work and this work could be lessened if Zimbabwe dealt with its resources freely for the benefit of its people.

The chief rabbi promised the AAG leadership that he would discuss Zimbabwe’s issue with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu so that the country can be supported in selling its diamonds without hindrances.

“He told us that as the Chief Rabbi – he fell directly into the office of the Israeli Prime Minister and he would engage the Israeli government to support Zimbabwe as a starting point,” Said Mandiwanzira.

Labels: AAG, BLOOD DIAMONDS, CHIEF RABBI SHLOMO MOSHE AMAR, DIAMONDS, KIMBERLEY PROCESS, SUPA MANDIWANZIRA, TAFADZWA MUSARARA

posted by MrK @ 4:01 PM