From pro-Palestinian protester to leader of an Israeli advocacy organization: "I saw the truth for myself"
Bafana Bi, a former pro-Palestinian activist from South Africa, changed his views after a visit to Israel in 2016 and now heads the Israeliz advocacy organization in the country. The organization recently sent a week-long delegation with 15 events and meetings with over 1,300 people. Bi claims the government's stance against Israel is based on historical alliances and does not reflect public opinion.
Bafana Bi, 33, from South Africa, was a pro-Palestinian political activist who participated in protests and believed Israel was an apartheid state. In 2016, he visited Israel with other student leaders and, according to him, discovered a gap between the picture he knew and reality. Following the visit, he changed his views and now heads the activities of the Israeliz organization in South Africa, which works to promote Israel's image through meetings and human stories. The organization recently sent an advocacy delegation to South Africa that included 15 events and meetings with over 1,300 people, in cooperation with South African Friends of Israel. The delegation included Israeli activists from various backgrounds, including an activist of Ethiopian origin, a Muslim Arab, and a Christian creator. Bi claims that the South African government leads a harsh line against Israel based on historical alliances, but most of the public is busy with internal issues like employment and the electricity crisis. He emphasizes that there is no hostility on the ground against Israelis and Jews, and that the Jewish community continues to lead full lives.