COSATU supports and launches International Israeli Apartheid Week
15 March 2021
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) joins the global progressive movement, and launches Israel Apartheid Week starting today the 15th of March – 21st March 2021. During this crucial week, and beyond, we want to raise public awareness about Israel’s regime of systematic racial discrimination against the people of Palestine, which amounts to the crime of apartheid under international law.
Regrettably, the situation of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation remains dire due to the repressive, destructive, and colonial policies and practices that continue to be perpetrated by Israel. The attacks are in deliberate, systematic and a grave violation of international law including humanitarian law and human rights law, with total impunity, as the international community continues to fail to hold Israel accountable in accordance with the law.
We also fully support the unity demonstrated in supporting the long-overdue decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to probe war crime charges against Israel. We welcomed this decision, standing firm with the Palestinian people, who have welcomed the ruling as a historic move in the direction of accountability.
In the same breath, we want to condemn the orchestrated smear campaign that has been launched against distinguished anti-apartheid activist Reverand Frank Chikane by supporters of apartheid Israel.