Trading With Pretoria
Eliana do Nascimento’s statement that Israel is a major trading partner of South Africa (Letters, Nov. 23) is preposterous. Israel’s trade with South Africa accounts for less than one-half of 1% of South African exports, and three-fourths of 1% of South African imports. The major trading partners are in fact Japan, the United Kingdom and West Germany, all of which trade over $3 billion annually with the racist regime.
In addition, 46 black African countries trade with Pretoria. Arab nations, primarily Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman supply South Africa with 76% of its imported oil. This trade is valued at $2 billion and enables the South African government to continue to exist. According to the Swedish International Peace Research Institute, South Africa’s primary arms suppliers are France, Italy and the United Kingdom.
From now on, Ms. Do Nascimento, let’s put the blame on those countries which are in fact keeping apartheid alive.
Jonathan Bernstein
Anti-Defamation League
of B’nai B’rith
Los Angeles
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