COSATU welcomes the UN Security Council’s resolution calling for an end to Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian Territories

The Congress of South African Trade Unions welcomes the United Nations resolution that was passed by its Security Council calling on Israel to put an end to its settlements on occupied Palestinian Territories. This resolution is long overdue and represents an unequivocal repudiation of the illegal occupation of Palestinian Territories by the apartheid state of Israel.

Millions of Palestinians are still subjected to merciless blockades by the Israeli army and still suffer from widespread land and property dispossessions. The Israeli regime continues to perpetuate apartheid practices and policies that violate the international law by demolishing homes of innocent Palestinians and illegally confiscating their land.

COSATU reiterates its rejection of Israel's military and political aggression against the people of Palestine. We reaffirm our solidarity with the people of Palestine and we are calling for an end to the evictions of the Palestinians. We are fully behind the call for all political prisoners and detainees to be released immediately. Our federation supports the formation of an independent Palestinian state with East-Jerusalem as its capital. The Israelis must affirm the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland.

Statement issued by COSATU, 23 December 2016