Muslims urge SA to cut Israel ties
MEMBER of parliament Mandla Mandela said yesterday the government should revoke the visas of an Israeli delegation expected to visit South Africa next month.
Mandla Mandela, a grandson of Nelson Mandela, was in Cape Town to participate in a march in which hundreds of Muslims demanded that the government cut all diplomatic ties with Israel and expel the Israeli ambassador from the country.
Mandela attended the march with his wife, Rabia.
The Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) of SA organised the march.
More than 4 000 members of the Muslim community and other dignitaries took to the streets in protest against the securing of the holy al-Aqsa mosque, in the Old City of Jerusalem.
The protesters marched from the Zinatul Islam mosque, in District Six, to parliament – where a memorandum addressed to the minister of international relations was handed over.
The council wants the government to close the Israeli embassy immediately, for what it called continuous desecrations on the Muslim holy site in Israel.
“Madiba would have wanted to see the continuation of the family pledging its support to the Palestinian people‚” Mandela said.
He said the situation in Palestine was the “greatest disgrace of our time”.
“We demand that occupied land be returned [to Palestine]. Madiba reminded us that our freedom is incomplete until Palestine is free.”
Mandela also wants the government to revoke visas for the Israeli delegation due next month.
“We should send this delegation back to Israel. They are not welcome in our beloved South Africa,” he said, to cheers.
On July 14‚ two Israeli security officers were shot dead at the alAqsa mosque by Israeli Arab gunmen. The Israeli government then secured the compound and introduced strict security measures.
It angered large sections of the global Muslim community and led to ongoing clashes at the site.
Former MJC president Sheihk Ebrahim Gabriels said the march was in solidarity with the people of Palestine.
“Know that al-Aqsa is not only sacred to Palestinians, but every Muslim,” Gabriels said. “That is why we are here.”
Madiba reminded us that our freedom is incomplete until Palestine is free