SACP Condemns Apartheid Israel on its Attack on Palestinians

12 May 2021

The South African Communist Party (SACP) strongly condemns Israel on its attack on Palestinians and its US-backed colonisation of Jerusalem, and calls upon the United Nations to exert extensive pressure on the Israeli regime to abandon its apartheid policy on Palestine. Apartheid, declared a crime against humanity by the United Nations, was bad for South Africa, and it is also bad for Palestine – though the measures being undertaken by Israeli regime appear to be even worse than those that were imposed in South Africa.

The SACP stands in unconditional solidarity with the people of Palestine in their resilient fight against the Israeli apartheid regime. We support all efforts across the world aimed at the strengthening of international solidarity, as well as democratic and peaceful activities in support of the oppressed Palestinian people.

In continuation of its apartheid policy on Palestine, the Israeli regime continues with its plans to evict Palestinians from the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah. Following peaceful prayers by Palestinians at Al-Aqsa over the weekend, Israeli forces attacked worshippers and also engaged on military air strikes in Gaza, destroying Palestinian lives and structures. Consequently, over 36 Palestinians, including 12 children, have been killed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza while hundreds have been seriously wounded.

Every day, Israel demonstrates its intentions to destroy the lives of the Palestinian people and have absolute control over Palestinian land in its pursuit for its colonialist and imperialist agenda, backed by the US government. Successive Israeli apartheid regimes have relentlessly violated all international agreements on the resolution of the crisis it has imposed on the Palestinian people, additionally intensifying illegal construction of Israeli settlements on Palestinian land. On the other hand, over the decades, the people of Palestine have genuinely abided by all international agreements and well-meaning compromises for the peaceful resolution of the conflict caused by Israel.

An apartheid state, regardless which one it is and where it is located, must be isolated in the same way or more as the South African apartheid state was isolated. The world must therefore isolate the Israeli apartheid state.

The SACP reiterates its support for the two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders with a viable Palestinian state. The SACP calls for Israel to evacuate all occupied Palestinian land with immediate effect unconditionally. The United Nations needs to apply real pressure on these international criminals and force them to abide by international law! Peaceful resolution to the Palestinian question must also be bound up with justice.

ISSUED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY | SACP

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Dr Alex Mohubetswane Mashilo

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