Statement by the UCT executive on the Israeli-Palestine conflict
18 May 2021
We are deeply disturbed by the escalating situation in the conflict in Israel and Palestine.
Our experience with the democratic transition in South Africa is a lesson about the power of empathy, negotiation and compromise. The escalating situation in Israel and Palestine thus serves as a reminder that intractable conflicts can only be solved through peaceful negotiation.
We reaffirm the statement previously made by the UCT Council, at its meeting on 30 March 2019 where Council:
reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the rights and freedoms of all people as universally recognised under international law;
condemned any acts that violate those rights and freedoms;
condemned the atrocities and human rights violations perpetrated in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and elsewhere in the world;
called on all academics and academic institutions to support this resolution
reaffirmed UCT’s commitment to academic freedom but reserved the right to dissociate itself from those academics and academic institutions that support (directly or indirectly) the violation of human rights and/or enable the violation of human rights.
We encourage both parties involved in this conflict to seek a lasting solution through peaceful negotiation and mediation.
In South African we had to imagine a post-apartheid South Africa. We had to ensure a nonracial, non-sexist and prosperous country after a long, protracted and violent history. It was only achieved through negotiation between freedom fighters and the government of the day.
Issued by Elijah Moholola, Spokesperson, Communication and Marketing Department, University of Cape Town, 18 May 2021
