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Afrique du sud : Join Us for the Launch of the Coalition for a Free Palestine (CfP)

D 26 septembre 2012     H 12:28     A     C 0 messages


Oppression anywhere is a threat to democracy everywhere

Next weeks official and historic launch of the Coalition for a Free Palestine (CfP) represents an expression of all South African based progressive forces to raise the voices of the oppressed and dispossessed people of
want to place on record our understanding of the strife of ordinary Palestinians, both in the occupied territories as well as those in refugee camps and in exile across the world. The CfP is inspired and humbled by the international solidarity that we received during our struggle against apartheid. We now want to repay this to the Palestinian people. The Palestinian struggle is a continuing part of our own revolutionary struggles.

The collective punishment of Palestinians

As organisations, including solidarity movements, students and youth formations, faith based organisations, trade unions, non governmental organisations, human rights formations, artist collectives, political parties, represented under the umbrella of the CfP this is our collective response in support of and in solidarity with the people of Palestine. This recognition is made in view of :
 Israel’s ongoing collective punishment of Palestinians through the illegal occupation and siege of Gaza ;
 The illegal occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the continued construction of the illegal Apartheid Wall and settlements ;
 The new Wall under construction by Egypt and the US which will tighten even further the siege of Gaza ;
 The contempt for Palestinian democracy shown by Israel, the US, Canada, the EU and others after the Palestinian elections of 2006 ;
 The war crimes committed by Israel during the invasion of Gaza a few years ago ;
 The continuing discrimination and repression faced by Palestinians within Israel ;
 The continued exile of millions of Palestinian refugees ;
 All of which oppressive acts are based ultimately on the Zionist ideology which underpins Israel ;
 In the knowledge that many governments have given Israel direct economic, financial, military and diplomatic support and allowed it to behave with impunity ;
 And mindful of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (2007)

Through the CfP we hope to mobilise and campaign around these commitments in order to raise the plight of our Palestinian comrades, to contribute to the isolation of the Israeli Apartheid state and to be a key pillar in building a global movement for a free and just Palestine.

The CfP is the largest Palestine solidarity umbrella body including youth groups, trade unions, human rights organisations, faith based groups, artists collectives, student organisations and political parties in South Africa. We are all committed

to seeing an end to the continued unjust occupation of Palestine and the continued practices of apartheid Israel. It is a commitment to :

 •Palestinian Self-Determination
 •Ending the Occupation
 •Equal Rights for All within historic Palestine
 •The full Right of Return for Palestinian refugees
 •The United Palestinian call of July 2005 for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel

EVENT : LAUNCH OF THE COALITION FOR A FREE PALESTINE
VENUE : 2nd FLOOR, COSATU HOUSE,
110 JORISSEN STREET BRAAMFONTEIN
DATE : 28 SEPTEMBER 2012
TIME : 09H00-18H00

Through the CfP we will campaign tirelessly, sending a clear signal to all those who are keen to maintain the oppression of our comrades in Palestine, both here in South Africa and around the globe. Our solidarity knows no borders and we are keen to work with all who share our values for a new, just and democratic world order.