19 October 2000
The unjustified and brutal Israeli aggression on Palestinian dignity and struggle for freedom has gone on for more than 3 weeks now. Despite this, the Democratic Alliance had not said even a word commenting on the Israeli/Palestine conflict until asked for comment by the Star newspaper for today's edition.
Moving from complete silence, the DA's Tony Leon goes to the other extreme by suggesting that the Palestinian struggle is of no consequence for South Africa and that calls on the DA to take a stand on Palestine are inspired anti-Semitism, given that he is of Jewish extraction. Look who is pulling the race card. This is the worst of hypocrisies. Let the DA come out clearly on where it stands on the Israeli/Palestine conflict. We need not remind Leon that human rights are universal and indivisible, whether in Zimbabwe or Palestine.
This gobbledygook from the DA is actually not surprising. It merely represents their history, opportunism and current practices, despite non-racist pretences and nuances, in addressing issues of human rights and the national liberation struggles. As we kno w, to take a stand on the Israeli/Palestine conflict means choosing between the struggle for national liberation and democracy on the one side, and an unjust Israeli regime supported by US imperialism on the other. Of course, the DA cannot be expected to s upport genuine national liberation and fundamental transformation in any setting, including South Africa. No wonder then, their well-mastered cheap politicking as apparent champions of democracy. For, beyond this empty electioneering, the DA does not offer South Africa a programme for fundamental transformation.
The Palestinian struggle, and every other struggle against oppression taking place anywhere in the world, has everything to do with South Africa and international solidarity something the DA has no idea of. All South Africans must support the legitimate st ruggle of the Palestinian people for freedom, justice and a sovereign Palestine state and use the coming local government elections to expose the DA for what it is a Dinosaur's Alliance intent on defending apartheid privileges
CONTACT - Mazibuko K. Jara (surname Jara)
Department of Media, Information and Publicity - South African Communist Party
Tel - 011 339-3621/2 Fax - 011 339-4244
Cell - 083 651 0271 Email - sacp1@wn.apc.org