South African Groups Back Stepped-Up Israel Boycott
Pro-Palestinian groups have issued a joint statement supporting the African National Congress’ call to intensify a boycott of Israeli products because of its “Zionist policies,” which it has compared to apartheid.
The South African Council of Churches, Open Shuhada Street, the Congress of South African Trade Unions, Kairos Southern Africa and the Media Review Network said the country’s ruling party should be congratulated for its stance, taken at its policy conference held in Cape Town last week.
“We know South Africa’s voice is particularly important given the oppression people have suffered here under apartheid,” the group said, according to a report in the Cape Times.
“The world is watching South Africa and sometimes takes the lead from us,” Kairos spokeswoman Marthie Momberg said. “It is disturbing how many people – due to ignorance – do not know how Israel is in violation of international law.”
South African Zionist Federation (Cape Council) chairman Ben Levitas said the ANC’s position disqualified it from being “an impartial contributor to the peace process.”
“If the ANC was truly committed to supporting the oppressed, why have they not taken steps to help the Syrians and other oppressed people?” he asked.
A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism so that we can be prepared for whatever news 2025 brings.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
