The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has called on the South African government to cut diplomatic ties with Israel.
This is part of efforts to put pressure on Israel to end the illegal occupation of Palestinian territory. The call was made by party leader Julius Malema during a march to the Israeli Embassy in Pretoria. The march coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration which gave the green light for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
“We are saying to South Africa remove our embassy in Israel, and then remove this one from the South African soil because we cannot share a territory with people who oppress others,” says Malema.
EFF leader Malema pulled no punches as he expressed his party’s disapproval of the continuing occupation of Palestinian territory by the Israelis. He called on South African academics not to visit Israel, and not to enter into any co-operation agreements with Israel.
Malema says economic sanctions must also be imposed.
“We are saying to the business community, cut your ties with Israel. If we boycott everything Israeli, then they will feel the pain, they will see the need to go to genuine negotiations with the Palestinian authority so that they resolve to come with one state solution, not two states,” says Malema.
Malema also spoke about the on-going racial tensions in the country. These include pictures of the burning of South Africa’s current national flag and replacing it with the old flag, during a march against farm murders earlier this week.
The pictures which are doing the rounds on social media platforms have sparked public outrage. Malema threatened to counter a planned march on the same issue planned by civil rights group Afriforum in Pretoria later this month.
Malema lambasted those who took part in the #BlackMonday march, saying the EFF will not allow black South Africans to be bullied in their own country.
“Now I heard that these whites are coming to march again, they will announce a new date.im thinking we must organize a counter march and meet them halfway. We cannot allow white people to do as they wish in this country like they’re doing in Palestine. Let them announce they day they’re coming back to Tshwane. Let us meet them, let us teach them who owns South Africa, we cannot be harnessed in our own country during apartheid and be harassed in our enemies county during a democratic dispensation,” Malema Cocluded.
The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation was also part of the protest march.
Spokesperson Zaakirah Vadi says, “Our message here today is very simple; our specific call is for the freedom of Palestinian political prisoners, just as apartheid South Africa used imprisonment as a form of oppressing resistance in South Africa, the Israeli regime is doing the very same thing. So the foundation would like to pledge its on-going support for the Palestinian people in their quest for freedom and dignity.”
Despite not meeting any official from the Israeli Embassy, the EFF has vowed to continue picketing outside the premises every year on this day. Attempts to source comment from the Israeli Embassy were unsuccessful.
