Al-Qalam 
In the wake of the Zionist terror state’s merciless bombing of Gaza that killed 47 people including 16 children, the Government was told that condemnation alone will not bring an end to the cruel occupation of Palestine, Al-Qalam reports.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign and the Media Review Network (MRN) have urged the Government to not ONLY issue statements of condemnation against Israeli terror but to take decisive actions against the Zionist “terrorist” state in the wake of its merciless attack on Gaza.
In a hard hitting document sent to the Government, the Palestine activist groups said: “The condemnation of Israel alone will not result in bona fide negotiation with Palestinians for an end to its oppressive settler colonial occupation policies.
“The dawn of equality rights for all who live in historic Palestine is long overdue. As was the case of apartheid South Africa, Israel needs to relinquish control and abandon its draconian oppressive policies which holds no place in the 21st century.”
The activist groups also called out the Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, Naledi Pandor for only issuing statements of condemnation against Israeli atrocities and stating the Government’s solidarity with the Palestinian people. It said it was meaningless when Pandor merely promotes the SA Government’s hackneyed call for a resolve of the situation “through sustained dialogue, negotiations and mediation, by both sides respecting one another and through compromise and understanding.“
In a hit back, the groups wrote: “Surely the Minister is aware that Israel has for decades violated international law and UN resolutions and embarked on an incremental colonial genocide of the Palestinian people since its formation in 1948”.
It continued: “There are many South Africans, predominantly pro Zionist Jews who support terror institutions like the SA Zionist Federation and SA Jewish Board of Deputies that are publicly complicit in Israel’s terrorism and genocide of Palestinians. South Africans also serve in the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) and are active combatants. And yet, the SA Government despite all its platitudes in support of the Palestinian liberation struggle and against Israel’s atrocities do not undertake active measures in ensuring South Africa fulfils its role that international law is upheld.
“The Palestine Solidarity Campaign and the Media Review Network were amongst the complainants including principal complainant, Safoudien Bester, who lodged in February with SA Authorities and organs of state, SAPS – DIPCI and the NPA – NDPP PCLU, a detailed and incriminating case against South African nationals and citizens.
“This also includes the following Zionist institutions, the South African Zionist Federation of South of Africa (SAZF), Zionist Federation of South Africa – Israel (TELFED), Israel Centre Cape Town and the Jewish National Fund (JNF).
“The evidence is incontrovertible that rights of Palestinians are consistently violated through the IDF’s targeted terrorism against individuals and infrastructure and the belligerent occupation of the OPT’s.
“Further inaction by our government and law enforcement agencies against SA Zionists participating in colonial state terrorism which violates the SA Constitution, SA’s Implementation of the International Criminal Court Act, SA’s Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities, Prevention of Organised Crime Act and the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act (RFMAA) makes the South African state also complicit”.
The document pointed out to the Government the numerous crimes that Israel was committing with impunity in direct violation of international law. These include extra-judicial killings; home evictions; house arrests of youth and activists; inhumane treatment and torture of political prisoners; implementation of racist policies of discrimination against Palestinians Arabs and non-Jews, arbitrary arrests; martial/administration la;, belligerent occupation of Palestinian territories; illegal expansion of settlements which violates UN Security Council Resolution 2334; the indiscriminate bombardment and siege of the Gaza strip, perpetration of terrorism; war crimes; ethnic cleansing; genocide and crimes against humanity.
The activist groups demanded that the SA Government take urgent action on the following.
*South African Authorities arrest and prosecute South Africans serving in the IDF.
*An investigation and prosecution of individuals in Zionist institutions facilitating terrorism, and illegal recruitment of South African nationals and citizens into the IDF.
*The shutdown of Zionist institutions flagrantly violating our constitution and the laws of the Republic of South Africa.
*To adopt and implement comprehensive legislation with the IPPSRA advocacy bill as its focal point in an institutionalised BDS campaign to isolate and dismantle the apartheid state of Israel.
“The actions undertaken now by the South African government in upholding international law and ensuring the perpetrators of injustice are prosecuted in accordance with our laws in defending humanity will speak volumes in years to come”, it concluded.
