ANC Western Cape Statement on Hamas visit

20 October 2015

The ANC in the Western Cape is privileged to host the Palestine liberation movement and organization, Hamas. Indeed the people of Western Cape have a long history of supporting the just struggle of the heroic Palestinian people.

The people of the Western Cape have held a clear view in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Unfortunately the DA leadership of this province has betrayed the will of our people, as the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Government continue to enjoy cosy relations with Israel and the Israeli lobby. The ANC calls on the DA in the Western Cape at this momentous and symbolic time to act honestly in- line with the will of the people of Western Cape and publicly end all its Israeli relations and dealings.

Unfortunately the DA stands with Israel and we doubt will have the decency of welcoming the visiting Hamas delegation - their Israeli masters won’t allow them. However, the ANC in the Western Cape, will pay the necessary tribute to the heroic leadership of Hamas.

The ANC in the Western Cape calls upon the DA City of Cape Town to:

-End its immoral twinning relationship with Israel’s Haifa

-Stop allowing officials and politicians to go on Israeli lobby-funded propaganda trips to Israel

-Premier Helen Zille must publicly welcome the visiting Hamas delegation and Mayor Patricia De Lille must award Khaled Meshaal the freedom of the city award.

It is broadly known that the African National Congress has a long-standing relationship with the Palestinian people and their struggle against Israeli Apartheid.

Our support is seen internationally at global forums like the UN, AU and elsewhere. Our support is also witnessed locally in our participation in initiatives such as the annual Israeli Apartheid Week programme, the BDS campaigns and various community-led protests and activities.

The visit by the Palestinian liberation movement, Hamas, is the most recent manifestation of our support of the Palestinian cause and people. The visit is led by Comrade Khaled Meshaal, who we recognise as a fellow comrade and leader who has been vilified much like our leaders including Tata Madiba were victimised and vilified during the struggle against Apartheid. Comrade Nelson Mandela was once called a terrorist just as how Comrade Meshaal is today falsely-labelled a terrorist by pro-Israeli supporters.

Some have tried to insult the memory of us South Africans by suggesting that by being in solidarity with the Palestinian people we are betraying our history.

Surprisingly some of these pro-Israel apartheid lobby groups think that they can speak on behalf of the ANC or on behalf of HAMAS, this merely exposes their arrogance - the ANC can articulate its own position and HAMAS can speak for itself. It's not surprising that such accusations are hurled by some, particularly when they (mostly Israeli supporters) were some of the biggest beneficiaries and supporters of the Apartheid Regime.

Today, if anything, Comrade Nelson Mandela, Comrade Walter Sisulu, Comrade OR Tambo and our various other leaders will be proud of South Africa’s continued involvement in international solidarity efforts and in particular our continued support for the heroic Palestinian people.

The ANC as a ruling party has to engage with various local constituencies however our position on Palestine is clear and is not swayed by local politics or opinions, it exists due to our internationalism and the years of solidarity that we received from the international community including the Palestinians. The ANC has encouraged all its members to desist from travelling to Israel and instructed all public representatives not to.

The ANC is unequivocal in its support for the Palestinian people in their struggle for self-determination, and unapologetic in our view that the Palestinians are the victims and the oppressed in the conflict with Apartheid Israel.

Finally, we as the ruling party we would like to acknowledge the support for the Palestinian cause that has come from various quarters of society including the Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu and other. Indeed, if anything, our solidarity with the Palestinian people are bringing us together. The ANC is against all forms of racism including anti-semitism, zionism and islamaphobia.

Statement issued by Faiez Jacobs, Provincial Secretary, ANC Western Cape, 21 October 2015