The South African Israel Public Affairs Committee   Wednesday, 21 November 2012     An open letter to South African International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane     Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Private Bag X152 Pretoria 0001 Republic   of South Africa   Fax: + 27 21 465 6548 eMail:  ramoraswim@dirco.gov.za mtshalitp@dirco.gov.za         Dear Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane   I attended your press conference on Tuesday, 20 November 2012, in Parliament in my capacity as a broadcaster and journalist where, amongst other things, you trotted out the worn out perennial cliché accusing Israel of “disproportionate use of force”.   May I be so bold as to ask you exactly what you define as “disproportionate use of force”? It is important that South Africans have a clear definition of what is meant by the use of this term so that we may apply our minds correctly and understand exactly what you are saying and where our government stands.   In 2011 alone, 630 rockets from Gaza hit Israeli towns. That is an even higher number than in 2010, when 231 rockets hit Israel. Since 2001, more than  12,800 rockets and mortars, an average of 3 attacks every single day,  have landed in Israel. This year alone 1577 rockets have been launched against Israel with 809 launched since 14 November at time of writing. Please allow me to point out that all these rockets and mortars have been aimed at Israeli civilians.   Minister, would it therefore be proportional if Israel fired 12,800 rockets against Gaza and aimed them indiscriminately against its civilian population in the same manner as Hama