PRESS RELEASE: Statement on Operation "Pillar of Defense" and announcements of countrywide pickets
As Israel launches Operation "Pillar of Defense" in Gaza and calls up 30 000 of its reserve troops for a ground invasion the Coalition for a Free Palestine (CfP) calls for an immediate cessation of the Israeli air strikes on Gaza and an end to the illegal blockade which has rendered Gaza into the largest prison in the world, with no escape for its citizens.
Earlier this week, the CfP condemned the escalation of violence from Israel into the strip and noted the murder of two Gazan citizens prior to the recent outbreak of rocketfire.
Based on this, we call on the government of South Africa to provide moral leadership to the world by recalling our South African ambassador to Israel and expelling the Israeli ambassador to South Africa. We are confident in our government to do the right thing and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation must know that it has our support in making these decisions.
The death toll in Gaza stands at 15 people with over 100 people wounded. The South African government must be a government of conscience and condemn the violence and disregard for international law.
The CfP alongside its affiliates will be holding pickets today, Friday the 16th November to support our government in acting decisively and standing in solidarity with the helpless civilians of Gaza. We encourage all peace loving South Africans to join the pickets.
Johannesburg: 2 PM, Luthuli House 54 Sauer St
Durban: 2PM Durban city Hall
Cape Town: Parliament Building 12 to 1PM
*The Coalition for a Free Palestine is the largest South African Palestine solidarity umbrella body, which includes youth groups, trade unions, human rights organizations, faith based groups, artists collectives, student organizations and political parties. Some member organizations include the South African Council of Churches, Congress of South African Trade Unions, African National Congress, South African Communist Party, Muslim Judicial Council, Muslim Students Association, Palestine Solidarity Alliance, Palestine Solidarity Committee, Palestine Solidarity Group, the student society and Media Review Network.
END
Issued by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Coalition for a Free Palestine
Tahir Sema
CfP Covener
082 940 3403
| 
RSS
