‘I’m Palestine my voice matters’

IN AN opinion article “SA must stand up for the women of Iran” (IOL, November 21), Kenneth Mokgatlhe criticises what he claims are South Africa’s double standards in international affairs. He points to Minister Naledi Pandor’s statements with regard to Israel’s apartheid and falsely claims that women under Israel’s rule enjoy rights and equality.

Mokgatlhe is wrong.

I am a Palestinian living under Israel’s rule and I campaign for human rights. I have worked with renowned human rights organisations, documenting and reporting on Israel’s oppression in Palestine for more than 15 years. Most recently, I helped produce Amnesty International’s report “Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and Crime Against Humanity” which includes case studies illustrating how Palestinian women are treated as a less and inferior to Jewish Israeli women.

Palestinian women are subject to the regime of racist laws, policies and practices Israel imposes on Palestinians and carry the heavier brunt of the resulting human rights violations.

They are also victims of crimes including forcible transfers, killings, torture and persecution which have been documented over many years by UN mechanisms and human rights bodies including Israeli organisations.

Earlier this year, Israeli forces raiding a Palestinian refugee camp in the city of Jenin, murdered renowned Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and then attacked her funeral.

Despite evidence of Israel’s responsibility, no one was held to account. Statements from Israeli politicians, officials, have stressed that soldiers controlling millions of Palestinians have free reign to shoot and kill.

Journalists and activists who stand up for women’s rights but turn a blind eye or give cover to Israel’s apartheid and the daily systematic oppression of Palestinian women are hypocrites who uphold double standards.

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