ANT KATZ

In what appears to be an ongoing part of the tug-of-war between the ANC as a party and the Government over Israeli policy which has emerged over the “Cape Town Declaration” matter – the party last week issued a statement in support of Israel Apartheid Week (IAW).

The statement was issued by Obed Bapela, who is the chair of the ANC National Executive Committee’s (NEC) International Relations Sub-Committee. This is a party position and has nothing to do with either the government, nor the ministry or the Department of International Relations and Co-operation (DIRCO).

The lengthy statement reads:

Comrade President Jacob Zuma, in his recent State of the Nation Address, reminded us that: “Democratic South Africa’s foreign policy was shaped many decades ago during the fierce international campaign to isolate the apartheid state. ANC President Oliver Tambo played a key role in that regard, assisted by among others, the late Johnny Makatini, former head of international affairs.”

In delivering democracy to South Africa, the ANC did this with the help of others, particularly through the ANC-led international anti-apartheid solidarity movement and successful international isolation of Apartheid South Africa. At its height, the ANC had over 40 Chief Representatives posted to various countries during the 1980s who were engaging with students, unions, churches and governments raising awareness of Apartheid South Africa’s oppressive policies, organising solidarity campaigns and lobbying people of the world to divest, boycott and end their support for Apart.

The ANC recognises that the international anti-Apartheid movement and sanctions campaign was shouldered, taken on and defended by thousands of ordinary citizens from numerous countries around the world. These ordinary citizens, made our struggle, their life. We are forever indebted to them.

Today we humbly continue the internationalism of our movement in lending our solidarity to the people of Cuba, Western Sahara, Swaziland, Palestine and other struggling people.

The ANC is proud to join the over 75 South African organisations, trade unions, civil society groups, schools, universities, religious communities, NGOs and other formations in participating in this year’s 10th International Israeli Apartheid Week. The vast array of participating organisations is an indication of our vibrant democracy. The ANC’s participation is in line with our long standing international positions but also the ANC’s recent 53rd National Conference resolutions, for example, resolution 35(e) “The ANC calls on all organisations in support of the people of Palestine to form a united solidarity campaign in a view of strengthening the South African solidarity forum” and resolution 35(f) “The ANC calls on all South Africans to support the programmes and campaigns of the Palestinian civil society which seek to put pressure on Israel to engage with the Palestinian people to reach a just solution.” A just solution is the only one that offers security for all people of the region.

 The ANC is unequivocal in its support for the Palestinian people in their struggle for self-determination, and unapologetic in its view that the Palestinians are the victims and the oppressed in the conflict with Israel. In participating in IAW this year we recall the words of our late President, Oliver Tambo: “The ANC feels most honoured…to address the international community…on the important question of Palestine – a question with which the people of South Africa fully identify”.