UPDATE: 11 August 2014, 3:45pm – On behalf of King David High School Victory Park, Rabbi Craig Kacev of the South African Board of Jewish Education (SABJE) said the school won’t be taking immediate disciplinary action against Joshua Broomberg.
Kacev said the matter had been blown out of proportion and that they would not make a decision based on the petition. “We are not going to be swayed by populist online petitions. We are a school of diverse opinions.”
Kacev added that they were in conversation with Broomberg to reach an understanding on the matter. Broomberg is currently in Thailand representing the South African National Debating Team.
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UPDATE: 11 August 2014, 1:30pm – The Kind David School‘s Facebook page posted, “The South African Board of Jewish Education and leadership of Victory Park High School takes note of the Facebook posting which has caused much discussion in the community. We assure you that the School is dealing with the matter.”
Meanwhile, Broomberg has received a huge amount of support from Rosebank Killarney Gazette readers who responded to the article.
Sumaiya wrote, “I admire your qualities because despite your religion, you seem to be a fair and humble person in support of those that are being oppressed in Israel, and if that isn’t a sign of character and leadership I don’t know what is.”
Anthony Mc Conkey wrote, “Utter rubbish that he can’t have an opinion. For those that attempt to strip him of his post shame on you. You are bigots in a scackled [sic] society and sadly unable to determine right from wrong.”
Nadia wrote, “I wish I had the courage to speak about issues like this when I was his age. I don’t think he should be removed from the school or from his position at his school. He is a brave young man.”
UPDATE: 11 August 2014, 10am – Following the uproar caused by the actions of Deputy Head-Boy of King David Victory Park School, Josh Broomberg, former leaders of the school have come to the aid of Broomberg.
A new petition has surfaced, calling for the end of the attack on the pupil on social media and the first petition against him, calling for the school to strip him of his responsibilities as the deputy Head-Boy of the school.
The petition reads, “We, the undersigned members of the Human Race, with complete understanding of the facts contained in this letter, write to you in response to the petition lodged on change.org regarding the latest incident at King David Victory Park’s (“KDVP”) by Deputy Head-Boy Joshua Broomberg (“Broomberg”).
We commend your decision in your choice of Joshua Broomberg (“Broomberg”) as Deputy Head boy of KDHS. He shows true leadership and humanitarian qualities which are an invaluable if we are to progress as a united human race.”
Click here to view the full petition that rejects the call to removed Broomberg as the deputy Head-Boy of the school.
Do you think he should still be removed as deputy Head-Boy of the school, or is he entitled to his own opinion?
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Initial report: 9 August 2014, 13:52pm: Over 1000 members of the Jewish community have signed a petition calling for the removal of King David Victory Park deputy head boy, Joshua Broomberg.
The online petition, addressed to the headmaster of the school Gavin Budd, calls for the school and the South African Jewish Board of Education (SABJE) to take immediate disciplinary action against Broomberg, following an alleged incident of his public support for Palestine.
The petition reads, “Broomberg was seen on a public forum, namely Facebook, draped in a Palestinian scarf (Keffiyeh) as well as a Palestinian Flag in the form of a badge, with the caption being, ‘Team South Africa wearing Palestinian badges and Keffiyehs to show our opposition to the human rights violations carried out against the people of Palestine’.”
The concerned members of the Jewish community are calling for his removal of office from his position as deputy head boy of the school and a disciplinary procedure into his conduct.
Meanwhile, the pupil, who is also the captain of the South African National Debating Team, has taken to Facebook to defend himself. In a statement on his social network page, Broomberg apologised, “It was not intended to create the uproar it has.”
However, he went further to say, “I do not apologise for standing with Palestine on this issue. This is not because I do not believe in Israel or its people. I do believe in Israel, and I take this stand because I can love and support the state of Israel but still reject and criticise some of its actions,” he wrote.
The United Nations has reportedly said that over 1 900 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed over the past four weeks during Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip.
Click here to read the petition.
Click here to read Joshua Broomberg’s statement.
Do you think he should be removed?
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