I strongly believe that South Africa is ready to counter Israel's efforts on the continent by initiating an Africa-Palestine Conference, a major gathering that aims to harness all the solidarity for the Palestinian people throughout all African countries.
Whether the conference is held under the auspices of the African Union (AU) or independently, the gathering of like-minded African and Palestinian leaders, parliamentarians, scholars and civil society leaders can develop a new frame of reference, which South Africa, the African continent, and, in fact, the rest of the world can use as a guiding principle of new thinking on Palestine. Based on the call made by Palestinian civil society in 2005 to boycott Israel, the Palestinian people have been demanding and expecting this new thinking for at least 15 years.
Those who might find the idea that Africa can lead the way on forming a new, global understanding on Palestine far-fetched, need to remember that it was the Organization of African Unity's resolution 77 (XII) of August 1975 that recognized and condemned the "organic link" between "the racist regime in occupied Palestine and the racist regime in Zimbabwe and South Africa". That very resolution served as a major frame of reference used in UN Resolution 3379 of November 1975 that determined that "Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination".
Africa must reclaim its position as a global leader in the fight against racism and apartheid, and South Africa is very qualified to spearhead these efforts, because, after all, as iconic South African leader Nelson Mandela once said, "We all know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians".
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
1
1
