Tel Aviv—Pretoria Axis

Recently the darling of NZ Truth, Mr Leo Durden, waxed eloquent in Salient's columns about NZUSA's purchase of an IATA agency because it could involve it with contacts with South Africa. Mr Durden was filled with "some horror" and he asked: "Do we have our own Watergate right here in NZUSA?" (Salient, August 29, 1977).

Mr Durden, as most of us will know, is a well known supporter of Zionism and apologist for Israeli policies of aggression in the Middle East. His horror would be more explicable it it were not for the fact that Israel and South Africa from a veritable axis of reaction, their common bond being the denial of elementary rights to the peoples who have had their homeland taken from them: the Palestinians in the case of Israel, the blacks in the case of South Africa.

South Africa was the only country to fully endorse Israel's attack on its Arab neighbours in the 1967 war. Israel is a big buyer of South Africa's diamonds. Excluding the arms trade, between 1968 and 1976 trade between Israel and South Africa increased from $9 million to $97 million.

Between 1973 and 1976 Israel and South Africa signed a series of agreements on co-operation in the military field. Recently the Director General of Israel's Military Industries Administration, Itzhak Ironi, announced that South Africa tops the list of Israeli arms buyers. The main items, bought by South Africa are Israeli-made Jericho and Gabriel rockets, aircraft aviation and electronic equipment and [unclear: missile]-carrying naval vessels. South Africa has manufactured for years the Israeli [unclear: VZI uvon] under licence. South African [unclear: siu]. Durban have launched manufacture of Dabur patrol boats under Israeli licence.

Between 1969 and 1972 Israeli arms slaes to South Africa grew sixfold, amounting to $20 million during the four years. In 1975 they topped $13 million. Vorster and Rabin signed agreements in April 1976 for South African investment in manufacturing military hardware in Israel.

Three years ago Vorster told Western newsmen that South African scientists had discovered a new cheap method of uranium enrichment and were starting the design of a major uranium enrichment complex. The Western press reported that Israeli scientists had helped them greatly in that. Is it too much to believe that Israel had a hand in the recent attempt by the South African racists to develop nuclear weapons?

South Africa and Israel regularly exchange military instructors and advisers and Israel shares with South Africa its mannuals and advisers dealing with anti-guerilla warfare.

In addition to growing trade and military ties. South Africa is increasingly exporting captial to Israel. There are a growing number of joint Israeli-South African enterprises and the two illegitimate regimes are partner in a massive bilateral technical assistance programme.

Mr Durden claims to oppose Israel's trading relations with South Africa? Does he oppose the Tel Aviv Pretoria Axis? Does he wonder why the two are linked?