Jewish minister in South Africa calls for boycott on Israel

A Jewish minister in the South African government threw his weight behind pressure for sanctions against Israel on Tuesday and said in an interview he would take the call to the cabinet soon.

Water Affairs and Forestry Minister Ronnie Kasrils, a former African National Congress (ANC) guerrilla, joined a small street protest in Cape Town by Jews and Muslims opposed to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

"I am Jewish born. Since Israel purports to speak and act in the name of Jews everywhere ... we are saying: No, not in my name. Never," he told Reuters in an interview later.

Kasrils and Cape Town Jewish businessman Max Ozinsky launched a petition last year distancing themselves from the actions of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his government. Kasrils yesterday said the time had come for him to back calls for a boycott of Israeli goods and the isolation of its government.

"People are saying that there should be boycotts, there should be sanctions ... I support the call now for the isolation and the boycott of Israel. I support sanctions," he said. "That is actually in the interests of all the people - Muslims, Jews and Christians - in the Middle East because the sooner we can stop this conflict ... the sooner we can get to negotiations, to a settlement for peace and a recognition of the Palestinian people's national rights."