COSATU supports International Israeli apartheid week and condemns DA and ACDP hypocrisy for supporting apartheid Israel 5 March 2014 It has become a political ritual and fundamental task for COSATU and workers in general to honour with dignity and renewed passion, the international week against apartheid by Israel. In the words of our stalwart and icon, former President Nelson Mandela, ...we know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians. We take this moment to join our alliance partners, the ANC and the SACP who have expressed unqualified support for the international Israel apartheid week and have committed to the intensification of our struggle against colonialism, apartheid and occupation. Once again, this coming week, 10th-16th March, all humanity in different corners of the world shall be called upon to pay tribute to the cause of the people of Palestine who are suffering from the brutal rule of an apartheid, colonial and occupying regime by Israel. It remains a test of our humanity and a stain on our conscience that in this century and day we are still witnessing the most savage forms of crude enslavement, genocide and dehumanisation visited upon people by a crude system of apartheid. The United Nations declared apartheid a crime against humanity and called upon the world to confront and defeat it wherever it manifests itself. In the same way it was decisively defeated in South Africa, it must and shall be defeated in Palestine. It is not upon the apartheid regime in Israel to determine how many more days is their horrible system going to last, but upon humanity and all global compatriots whose decisiveness shall be the main determining factor as to how quick shall it take the world to ensure that the abominable system is abolished. But the United Nations is helpless in the face of a global bully, Israel, which is aided by the global empire led by the US, which have arrogated themselves the sole right to violate international law. The US continues to arm Israel in order to enforce the brutal occupation and racist genocide against the people of Palestine. We hail our parliament for hosting a very successful and inspiring International Solidarity Conference with the people of Cuba, Western Sahara and Palestine recently. Those who unashamedly continue to support apartheid in Israel, because they receive funding from the forces of occupation and colonialism continue to subvert the democratic efforts to support the people of Palestine. The DA and the ACDP have openly exposed themselves as shameful supporters of the continued occupation, colonisation and racist expansionism by the Zionist forces in Israel against Palestinians. COSATU is proud to, even in the midst of cowardice, collaborationism, fear and patronage by some in the ranks of the international trade union movement, continue to actively champion the cause of the Palestinian people in all possible forums and spaces it happens to occupy. This year, as we prepare to be part of the World Congress of the International Trade Union Congress (ITUC) in Germany to be held in the city of Berlin in May, we have, once again, in true show of solidarity and principle, sponsored a resolution for the freedom of the Palestinian people. It is a not a struggle we are about to abandon, whatever the odds. We are inspired by the unstoppable global movement for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Campaign against the apartheid regime of Israel. Governments, trade unions, NGOs, churches, academic institutions, students organisations and all progressive forces are daily throwing their full weight, resulting in the crisis reluctantly admitted by the Netanyahu regime recently. We reaffirm the call of the Palestinian people for; The intensification of the BDS as the only peaceful form of pressure for the suffering people of Palestine An immediate end to the occupation of Palestine by Israel An immediate end to the spate of bombings and vicious attacks against Gaza and all parts of Palestine An end to the colonial settlement and expansionism by Israel eating away the land of the Palestinian people Immediate and unconditional right of return for all Palestinian exiles UN to hold Israel accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity As we go to our General elections on the 7th May, we must do it for the fighting people of Palestine too. Their struggle is our struggle and our victory is their victory too. Let us in our numbers join the many activities for the coming week. Workers and their families must use this opportunity to reaffirm our religious commitment to the call by our former leader, Comrade Nelson Mandela that their cause is our cause too. Bongani Masuku (International Relations Secretary) Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) 110 Jorissen Cnr Simmonds Street Braamfontein Tel: +27 11 339-4911 or +27 10 219-1335 Fax: +27 11 339-5080 Mobile: +27 79 499 6419 E-Mail: [email protected] - See more at: cosatu.org.za/show.php?ID=8500#sthash.TstxOLk7.dpuf
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 14:13:03 +0000
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