Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 13-03-2018
Palestinian-American journalist and co-founder of the widely acclaimed and award-winning online publication The Electronic Intifada says South Africa has the moral authority to speak about Apartheid after representatives from the country told the UN in January that Israel is the only the country in the world that can be called an apartheid state.
Ali Abunimah was speaking to Radio Islam in Lenasia on Tuesday about the daily struggle of the Palestinians under Israeli occupation.
He is in South Africa as a guest of BDS South Africa for the 14th Israeli Apartheid Week which takes place from the 12 to 18 March.
Abunimah says Apartheid is defined as one of the most heinous crimes against humanity and international law.
“What we know from the South African experience is that people in this country paid the tremendous price for their freedom, but they couldn’t do it all alone. They needed global solidarity, and that the message of Israeli Apartheid Week, Palestinians need global solidarity, they need the support of South Africans.”
Abunimah says South Africa carries a responsibility to act against apartheid in Israel.
“Palestinians need people to push the South African government to be more bold, to be an international leader to say ‘we are not an economic or military super power, but when it comes to fighting apartheid, we are a moral super power.’”
Abunimah says the voices and work being shared around the world about the Palestinian struggle educates and inspires people to act for justice in Palestine and doesn’t’ make them feel powerless.
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