SA will always support the Palestinians
THE PLIGHT of the people of Palestine is of great importance to South Africans, as we have ourselves both experienced the horrific evil oppression of apartheid and the incredible selfless support and solidarity from the international community.
We are both an important friend to the Palestinians and a strategic ally. Our historical friendship with Palestine was developed by Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) chairman Yasser Arafat and the then exiled ANC president, Oliver Tambo.
This was later solidified by President Nelson Mandela, who was unapologetic in our support of the Palestinian people. Tata Madiba explained:
“The temptation in our situation is to speak in muffled tones about an issue such as the right of the people of Palestine to a state of their own. We
We can easily be enticed to read reconciliation and fairness as meaning parity between justice and injustice.
NELSON MANDELA
Former South African president
can easily be enticed to read reconciliation and fairness as meaning parity between justice and injustice.
“Having achieved our own freedom, we can fall into the trap of washing our hands of difficulties that others face. Yet we would be less than human if we did so. It behoves all South Africans, themselves erstwhile beneficiaries of generous international support, to stand up and be counted among those contributing actively to the cause of freedom and justice.”
The struggle of the Palestinian people is not only a David versus Goliath fight for freedom, but is also a test of our humanity. The endless displacement and land grabs by Israel remind us of our own past. Sadly, Israel, the Israeli lobby and countries which support Israel have no regard for the property rights of the Palestinians.
We, as government, have withdrawn our ambassador to Israel, one of several countries to have done so in response to Israel’s increasing violations of international law. We also have numerous memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with Palestine and Palestinian cities. In fact, the City of Joburg, under the then leadership of mayor Parks Tau, signed a twinning agreement with the city of Ramallah.
However, we have not done enough. In the year that we celebrate the centenary of Mandela’s birth, we should recommit ourselves to his legacy and his allegiance to the Palestinian people. We should continue to show that South Africa cares about human rights and international law. As the South African government, we will do what we can to ensure we are moving with the pulse of our people.
When we, as government, forge MOUs with the Palestinian people or withdraw our ambassador from Israel, we are doing this due to the impulse coming from the streets of our country.
This event forms part of that impulse, and I would like to celebrate each one of you here today.
Andries Nel is Deputy Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs. This is a shortened version of a speech to a public seminar on the 2018 Metropolis Annual Meeting.