South Africa downgrades its Embassy in Israel to a Liaison Office
JVL Introduction
We have often been told that describing Israel and an apartheid regime downgrades and devalues the heroic struggle of South Africans against apartheid.
They don’t see it that way.
The South African parliament has just decided it has to take some firm diplomatic action to make its opposition to Israeli apartheid known.
In the words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu in 2013:
I wish I could keep quiet about the plight of the Palestinians. I can’t! The God who was there and showed that we should become free is the God described in the Scriptures as the same yesterday, today and forever. What’s being done to the Palestinians at checkpoints, for us, it’s the kind of thing we experienced in South Africa.”
To no-one’s surprise, Israel’s Foreign Minsitry said: “The symbolic resolution taken yesterday by the South African parliament calling for the downgrading of relations between South Africa and Israel is shameful and disgraceful.”
We can only hope that other countries act in the same “shameful and disgraceful” way.
This article was originally published by Africa4Palestine on Tue 7 Mar 2023. Read the original here.
South Africa downgrades its Embassy in Israel to a Liaison Office
07 March 2023
The human rights organisation Africa4Palestine welcomes today’s historic motion adopted, with an overwhelming majority, by the Parliament of South Africa, to support the downgrade of South Africa’s Embassy in Israel to a Liaison Office. The parliamentary motion, introduced by the National Freedom Party (NFP), passed 208 for and 94 against.
Parties that voted in favor of today’s historic motion included the African National Congress (ANC), Economic Freedom Front (EFF), African Independent Congress (AIC), Pan African Congress (PAC), United Democratic Movement (UDM), Al Jamaah and the National Freedom Party (NFP).
Parties that voted against the Palestinian resolution included the Democratic Alliance and the ACDP.
Finally we support the NFP Parliamentary leader, the honourable Shaik Emam, who explained that the downgrade of the South African Embassy in Israel to a Liaison Office should “serve as a catalyst to start the process of progressively and completely isolating Apartheid Israel”.
ISSUED BY TISETSO MAGAMA ON BEHALF OF AFRICA4PALESTINE
For comment:
Africa4Palestine Director, Muhammed Desai: +27 (0) 84 211 9988
Africa4Palestine Spokesperson, Tisetso Magama: +27 (0) 76 979 8801
Africa4Palestine Media Liaison, Alie Komape: +27 (0) 76 979 8801
The Israeli Foreign Ministry may find it comforting to describe the South African parliament’s decision as “symbolic”, but the angry reaction of Zionists all over the world (as posted on the World Wide Web) suggests that they understand only too well the political effect this vote could have. Although the proposal came from a small, left wing party it won the support of the ANC – and that was decisive.
Given that the people of South Africa have real, lived experience of the cruelty and injustice of apartheid, perhaps they are better qualified than anyone when it comes to recognising the true barbarity of what the Israeli government has been doing to the Palestinian people over many years. Let us hope that other governments will have the courage to follow South Africa’s lead.
Interesting if nauseating to read the Zionist reaction – what arguments and what evidence these fanatics have, apart from “we let them vote”, “some of them have been granted the odd posh job”, “we’ve made sure that in the West Bank and Gaza things are even worse for them” etc etc. Facilis descensus Averni; noctes atque dies pater atri janua Ditis… Black S Africans under apartheid saw the discomfort of the ‘Baas’-men with relish and with hope; let’s do more of the same (and other measures) for the Palestinians…
[For those, like your editor, sho didn’t recognise the quote. It’s fromVirgil’s Aenead:
“Facilis descensus Averno:
Noctes atque dies patet atri ianua Ditis;
Sed revocare gradium superasque evadere ad auras,
Hoc opus, hic labor est.
(The gates of Hell are open night and day;
Smooth the descent, and easy is the way:
But to return, and view the cheerful skies,
In this task and mighty labor lies.)”]
This is good news, I haven’t heard about it on the BBC, has anyone else?
We need more Countries to follow S Africa but many are too afraid of the US putting sanctions against them.
Still this is good news, so we must stay positive and keep posting Israeli Crimes against the Palestinians.
Just did a search, and it appears that none of the MSM covered this story which, given their past form – and for the obvious reason – one wouldn’t expect them to.
Just to be clear though (according to a Times of Israel article), the resolution has to be adopted by the government before it can be implemented which, as far as I can tell, hasn’t happened so far. But it was interesting to read in the article that in 2019, South Africa downgraded its embassy in Tel Aviv and pulled out its ambassador.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/south-african-parliament-symbolically-votes-to-downgrade-israel-ties/
I also came across the following article from April 2019 in the list of results:
‘Israel to close its embassy in South Africa’
Israel is planning to withdraw its ambassador to South Africa after Pretoria began steps to downgrade its relations with Tel Aviv, Israeli radio reported yesterday.
According to the station, the Israeli embassy in South Africa will be downgraded to a representative office which would deal with consulate issues……
The ruling African National Congress (ANC) voted to downgrade the South African Embassy in Israel to liaison office level 16 months ago.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190408-israel-to-close-its-embassy-in-south-africa/
Confused? Then check out the following article which will hopefully de-confuse you:
Israel on Wednesday rebuked the South African Parliament for voting to formalize a governmental decision taken four years ago to downgrade its ties with the Jewish state.
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-733701
ALSO came across the following in the list of results….. Talk about turning reality on it’s head!:
Amid naked hatred for the Jewish state, a number of politicians named the downgrading for what it was: a cheap political game, a clear and hostile bias, a betrayal of South Africa’s own history…..
https://www.sajr.co.za/friends-in-high-places-the-politicians-who-stood-behind-israel/amp/
Yes, if you support and empathise with the Palestinians, then you must hate the Jewish State (and must be an antisemite of course!). Their propaganda is oh-so obvious and unsubtle – and poisonous – it’s hard to believe that anyone on the planet is taken in by it.