Johannesburg - He calls himself Montero. But that’s all that’s known about him – that and his “vicious” anti-Semitic posts on Twitter. And his hate speech has been singled out as one reason that the country’s Jewish community is on high alert during Yom Kippur this weekend.
Montero, says Mary Kluk, the Jewish Board of Deputies national chairman, “is probably one of the most vicious individuals we have ever come across”.
He is untraceable. His Twitter account leaves no clue as to who he is, what he does or who he works for.
On Thursday alone, he posted 50 anti-Semitic pictures, and he regularly makes reference to the board, she reveals.
These messages include: “F*** the Kikes,” and “Jew parasites should all be killed and wiped off the earth.”
Others profess: “Keep calm, kick a kike,” and “I like my Jews like I like my bread… toasted.”
“I support Isis and all other Muslim freedom fighters who kill Jews… Every Jew they kill is one less I have to kill.”
Synagogues around the country have increased their security – and are now guarded by 24-hour security teams, concrete barriers and the Joburg Metro Police, who have closed roads during worship.
Joburg metro police spokesman Wayne Minnaar says the board approached the traffic police to “assist with security and road closures during the holy month”, though he could not confirm what threats the Jewish community faced.
Kluk claims that since the recent war in Gaza, “this anti-Semitic rhetoric has reached levels unseen for many decades. We are concerned about an increased security risk to our community over the high Holy days.
“What is particularly alarming is his (Montero’s) ability to tweet anti-Semitic images with untold venom. He talks about personally killing Jews and supporting the work of Isis,” she said.
“This is an individual who we feel deems thorough investigation as he violates the constitutional laws of this country.”
Groups he subscribes to include New age Nazi, Notorious anti-Semites and Neo-Nazi Monsters.
Brigadier Neville Malila, the provincial police spokesman, says they have not received any complaints by, or threats to the Jewish community. “The deputy provincial commissioner as well as the provincial CPF (community policing forum) chairperson are in constant liaison with the Jewish board to discuss security issues.”
Moulana Ebrahim Bham, the secretary-general of the Council for Muslim Theologians, believes it is “alarming” the Jewish community perceived itself to be under an increased security threat from “jihad terrorism”, as stated by Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein.
“As the Jewish community beefs up safety and security around shuls and tips its members off on precautions, it’s only proper that any credible reports of threats be brought to the attention of the relevant national authorities.
“By the choice of his words, the rabbi’s claim places the source of this threat on the doorstep of Muslims,” said Bham.
“As a Muslim community, we are not aware of any such condemnable plots of potential attacks on South African soil.
“It is therefore important that the rabbi should be careful with his language that is prejudicial and likely to incite violence against members of the Muslim community.
“It’s our sincere hope that this development will not again lead to situations where clandestine Zionist-linked security agencies start to harass innocent civilians at public facilities, as has happened before, even when those targeted did not pose any danger to anyone.”
On Thursday, the Jewish Board met President Jacob Zuma and a high-level government delegation where it briefed him on “the sharp rise in anti-Semitic activity in South Africa, including threats and intimidation against the Jewish community and its leadership”.
Zuma, said the board, “stressed that his government remained committed to combating such prejudice.
He further emphasised the need for there to be harmony between people of different backgrounds and opinions” in the country.
Referring to a Twitter post cited earlier by Kluk that “Hitler was right, pity he didn’t finish off all Jews”, Anneli Botha, a terrorism expert at the Institute for Security Studies, believes the Jewish community’s reaction to these social media messages is “a bit extreme”.
“The reality is that there are many people with anti-Semitic views in the country, and it’s sad that’s the case, but to heighten security based on messages on social media, that might be taking it a bit far.”
Saturday Star