[DEBATE] : (Fwd) Anti-Israel protests in SA

[Patrick Bond]

The Mercury

March to show support for Palestinians

January 08, 2009 Edition 1

JEFF WICKS

Thousands of people are expected to take to the streets of Durban 
tomorrow as part of a protest march against the Israeli offensive and 
occupation of Gaza.

The march has been planned by several Durban-based civic organisations.

The South African Relief Agency and various other organisations have 
called on people to "march against terror attacks on Gaza".

The march will start outside the Grey Street Mosque at 1.30pm and will 
proceed to the city hall.

In a statement yesterday, the South African Relief Agency said South 
Africans needed to support the Palestinian people.

"We need to show solidarity with the people of Palestine and support 
them in their struggle for freedom and against inhuman Israeli policies.

"Although there have been statements from the South African government 
and the ANC, much more needs to be done if we are to stop the atrocities 
in Gaza and bring freedom to the people," the organisation said.

"Furthermore, our government must put pressure on the United Nations, 
America and Israel. This brutal aggression and crime against humanity is 
unacceptable.

"We believe that silence is not a moral option. We owe the people of 
Palestine our support. They supported our struggle against apartheid.

"Our call is to the wider South African community who are peace loving 
people to join us on Friday for this march, and request every South 
African to pray for peace and for a just and amicable solution to this 
60-year-old conflict," it said.

***

SA's anti-Israel protest
Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:04

Countrywide pickets against Israel's military offensive on the Gaza 
Strip got off to a slow start on Wednesday but this has not deterred 
organisers from forging ahead with their awareness campaign.

The pickets, which were expected to carry on until Friday, were being 
held in Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Pretoria.

"It was a slow start but hopefully more people will join us tomorrow. 
But it is, however, not about the numbers but to create awareness about 
what is happening," said Moeniera Peters of Salt River Circle in Cape Town.

Pickets in Cape Town were held between 7.30am and 8.30am on Wednesday, 
Bloemfontein picketers were expected to meet at 11am.

The Workers International Vanguard League (WIVL) and the Anti-War 
Coalition were expected to join the awareness campaigns on Thursday 
afternoon, with a mass march to parliament.

Spokesperson for WIVL Shaheed Mahomed said they would also write letters 
to Pick n Pay, Checkers and Woolworths "to ask them to stop funding 
Zionist organisations and to stop importing Israeli goods".

Sapa