CAPE TOWN, October 12, 2009 (WAFA)- Jews in Cape Town -South Africa- expressed deep concern that a visit to their city by three representatives of the Shministim, conscientious objectors to Israeli Army service, could fuel anti-Israel sentiment and even anti-Semitism, the Rebel news said.

Sponsored by South Africa's End Conscription Campaign (ECC) and the Open Shuhada Street (OSS), a non-profit organization campaigning to open a Hebron street, Yuval Ophir-Auron, 20, Omer Goldman, 20 and Sahar Vardi, 19 arrived to the country.

Among their scheduled appearances are interviews on television and radio shows, as well as numerous presentations at local schools and universities.

Rebel news said: 'They are speaking out to the greater South African population, that does not really know or understand the complex issues of the conflict in Israel,' commented National Vice Chairman of the South African Zionist Federation David Hirsch.

Hirsch has actively voiced his concern that the three will present a one-sided view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and could ultimately strengthen the anti-Israel lobby.

Rebel news mentioned: 'One of the main problems is that it could be used by other groups in a very negative way,' concurred Owen Futeran, chairman of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies in Cape Town, pointing out that the ECC fought against conscription based on human rights, 'which cannot be compared to the existential threat that Israel faces every day.'

In addition, he said: 'This visit could cause major problems for the Jewish community, because many of the non-Jewish schools where they are speaking will not take the time to explain the Jews' 3,000-year-old historical claim to Israel or the last 62 years of Israel's modern history.'

The three will also speak at a Jewish community center, but were refused a chance to give a talk at the city's largest Jewish day school, out of fears that their stance did not address Israel's right to defend itself.

A story published in the local newspaper Cape Times yesterday about the Shministim's visit, described conscription into the IOF as a violation of human rights and told of how IOF soldiers routinely deny millions of Palestinians their civil freedoms.

'Obviously providing a full picture of what is happening in Israel cannot be done in just one talk,' acknowledged Ilan Strauss, a volunteer for Open Shuhada Street and one of those behind the Shministim's visit.

'However, it is important that South Africans are exposed to these courageous, non-violent perspectives, which adhere to human rights for both parties and aim to ensure a just resolution to the ongoing violence.'

He said that the aim of the visit was to 'build solidarity in South Africa for human rights that cuts across gender, class and ethnic boundaries and seeks full civil rights for Israeli and Palestinians, as well as an end to Israeli occupation.”