The Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) has called on South Africa to continue supporting its fight for independence from Israel.

Speaking in Durban after meeting with the ANC provincial leadership, the PLO Secretary-General Jibril Rajoub thanked the ANC and South Africa for always supporting their course and asked the party to continue the support until the people of Palestine are free. 

“I know you have always been with us. Nelson Mandela and Yasser Arafat were always together in this course. We urge the people of South Africa to continue supporting us,” said Rajoub.

In response, the ANC’s international Relations head, Dr Sbu Ndebele, assured the Palestinian leader of the party’s support, saying it will never abandon the people of Palestine.

In a veiled swipe at uMkhonto weSizwe Party leader Jacob Zuma, the ANC’s provincial convener Jeff Radebe said, unlike those who have turned their backs on the people of Western Sahara, the ANC still stands with the people of Western Sahara.

Zuma recently visited Morocco, where he pledged support for Morocco in controlling Western Sahara, abandoning a position he defended while still the president of the ANC and the country.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron decided to recognise the State of Palestine, an announcement he is expected to make before the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in September. 

“We need an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and massive humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza. We must also ensure the demilitarisation of Hamas, secure, and rebuild Gaza. And finally, we must build the State of Palestine, guarantee its viability, and ensure that by accepting its demilitarisation and fully recognising Israel, it contributes to the security of all in the region,” Macron said. 

University of Zululand-based political analyst, Professor Sipho Seepe, said the State of Israel’s acts against the people have called into question the whole idea of Western civilisation. The brutality has been rightly labelled genocidal, making it a crime against humanity. 

“France does not want to be included as being complicit through its own silence or lack of opposition to acts of violence meted against Palestinians. This is what motivates President Macron,” Seepe said. 

Speaking on the sidelines, Rajoub said they hope Macron will keep on and will implement his commitment, the recognition of a Palestinian state, which is a small part of compensation, giving the Palestinians hope to look forward to.

“If the international community is not going to exert any pressure on the Israelis, by recognising the very existence of the Palestinian people, believe me, it means that we will keep on this vicious cycle,” Rajoub said.

He said he hopes and wants to be optimistic that Macron will do it. He also hopes the rest of the European Union countries will do the same. 

“This will be a good message to the Israelis to stop,” Rajoub said. 

ANC provincial convener Jeff Radebe said recently that there was good news: people demonstrating in the major capitals of the world, calling for the UN to implement the resolution of a two-state solution.

“Both Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and now recently France have once again raised this issue, which we fully support,” Radebe said. 

“We’re looking forward to the next session of the general assembly of the UN in September, where once again we’re going to be endorsing this resolution.”

Additionally, African Union Commission chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf welcomed President Macron’s announcement and viewed it as a significant step toward a just, lasting, and comprehensive solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, grounded in international law and relevant UN resolutions.

thobeka.ngema@inl.co.za

willem.phungula@inl.co.za

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