Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 17-05-2019
The African National Congress (ANC) has urged the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) to refrain from driving a wedge among party leaders.
The party says its disappointed by comments from SAJBD’s Zev Krengel directed at Minister of International Relations Lindiwe Sisulu for advancing the ANC’s resolution on Palestine taken at the 54th National Conference at Nasrec last year.
Sisulu took the decision to downgrade South Africa’s embassy in Israel to a visa office, which has put her in the firing line from the SAJBD.
In an article published by the community news paper The Jewish Report, SAJBD vice-president Zev Krengel said Sisulu is the “single biggest enemy in government” to SA’s Jewish community.
The ANC says it is satisfied that Sisulu has affirmed the country’s foreign policy so that it reflects South Africans profound opposition to gross human rights abuses and colonial occupation of Palestine.
“As part of our solidarity with the people of Palestine, the ANC’s 54th National Conference resolved, in order to give practical expression of support to the oppressed people of Palestine, “to direct the South African government to immediately and unconditionally downgrade the South African Embassy in Israel to a Liaison Office”.
The ANC has called on the SAJBD to appreciate and respect growing concerns for the ongoing human rights atrocities being inflicted on the people Palestinian people by Israel.
“It remains our considered view that Israel must be part of a solution towards peace and human dignity for the Palestinian people and that such is not a religious or tribal matter, nor is it directed at any group or religion.”
The ANC says the stance taken by South Africa to downgrade its relations with Israel has been welcomed by people of all religions who are concerned about the impunity with which Israel has been allowed to act against civilians in the occupied Palestinian Territories.
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