GOVERNMENT

Kenneth Meshoe

President, African Christian Democratic Party

In July 2018, South African politician Rev. Kenneth Meshoe led an ebullient, 5,000-strong demonstration in Pretoria expressing solidarity with Israel. Addressing the rally afterwards, Meshoe warned the ruling African National Congress (ANC) that its bid to downgrade diplomatic relations with Israel could cost the party the votes of millions of pro-Israel Christians. "If you don’t listen to these thousands who are here to represent millions of Christians in South Africa, who are saying do not downgrade the Israeli embassy, then next year Hamas, which influences you, won’t be there to vote for you," Meshoe declared. The president of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), Meshoe has been hailed by South Africa's Jewish community for his energetic campaign to counter the slander that Israel is an "apartheid state" akin to the former white minority regime in that country. (Photo: Screenshot.)