Protest over Israeli ship
Pro-palestinian groups have called on South Africa to sever ties with Israel and for people to shun companies dealing with Israel.
As the Middle East woke to a ceasefire yesterday morning, pro-palestinian protesters gathered across the water from an Israeli-owned vessel docked in Durban Harbour to voice their disdain for Israel’s actions in the fighting this month.
The protest was prompted by the arrival of the Zim Shanghai in Durban. Word had it among the protesters that its cargo was labelled as “hazardous” and it was being offloaded.
The SA Trade and Allied Workers Union had announced that its members would refuse to offload the vessel in a show of sympathy for the Palestinian victims of Israeli airstrikes.
According to reports, the announcement came just days after similar action was taken by dockworkers in the Italian city of Livorno who refused to load an arms shipment on a ship belonging to the same Israeli company, Zim Integrated Shipping.
Transnet said in a brief statement that it had contingency measures in place at the port, and that the vessel was “currently being attended to”.
Spokesperson Ayanda Shezi added: “Transnet SOC Ltd respects the right of individuals to peacefully assemble, demonstrate or present petitions”.
A host of organisations supported the protest, the most visible being the SA Federation of Trade Unions, the SA Students Congress (Sasco), People Against Oppression, the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance, Abahlali basemjondolo and the SA Boycott, Divest, Sanction Middle East Coalition.
Addressing participants, Na’eem Jeenah, executive director of the Middle-east Centre, called for the government to cut ties with Israel and for people to boycott South African companies linked to or doing business with Israel. Jeenah called on South Africa to support all Palestinian resistance and welcomed the ceasefire.
Abahlali basemjondolo provincial spokesperson Thapelo Mohapi said the informal settlement residents’ movement “feels the same oppression of being evicted by the state”.
A legal battle over Israeli settlers’ claims to land in East Jerusalem triggered the recent trouble.