COSATU on trial for its support for the Palestinian people
9 February 2017
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is effectively on trial for its international solidarity and specifically its support for the Palestinian people.
In 2009 Israel attacked the Palestinian Gaza Strip killing over 1400 people including more than 300 children. Israel was also accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. During the attacks COSATU joined civil society as well as members of various faiths including progressive members of our Jewish community in protesting against those barbaric attacks. One of the many protests was held at the head office of the SA Zionist Federation - the SA Zionist Federation together with other members of the Israeli lobby had, at the time, publicly defended the Israeli attacks on the Gaza strip and the Israeli massacre against Palestinians.
Linked to the global protests against the Israeli attacks against Palestinians, COSATU dockworkers belonging to SATAWU in Durban had refused to offload cargo from an Israeli ship. COSATU was invited to provide a lecture at Wits University on this heroic act of workers and what it means for the global struggle against Apartheid, oppression and human rights which was disrupted by Israeli supporters with threats and abuse.
Since then, because of its practical support of the Palestinian people, COSATU has been a victim of a sustained attacks by the Israeli lobby, particularly, the SA Zionist Federation (SAZF) and the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD). At the time, COSATU received abusive mails, emails, phone calls and other threats from Israeli supporters, two such messages directed at COSATU from that time are reproduced here: