Palestine: SA Government Action Overdue
For how long will the South African government remain bystanders while Israel keeps gobbling up Palestine?
It’s a concern expressed not only by Palestinian victims of Israel's land grab policies, but also by local solidarity activists.
The argument made in favour of more effective action is informed by the support shown for Palestine by the ruling party, the African National Congress. And the rationale used is that while the ANC has adopted a number of significant resolutions backing Palestine, the same cannot be said of the government.
The disconnect between party and state is glaring. It suggests that the divide reflects rhetoric on the one hand and indecisiveness on the other. And all the while such procrastination continues, Palestine's hope of securing any of its legitimate rights, keep fading away.
More importantly, the conviction displayed by Palestinians, especially since the dawn of democracy in SA, that a free South Africa will accelerate their freedom, has also been severely dented.