Johannesburg - The African Christian Democratic Party is up in arms over the invitation of Palestinian activist Leila Khaled to attend the State of the Nation Address (Sona) by President Jacob Zuma on Thursday.
The party said on Tuesday the invitation of Khaled flew in the face of the country’s fight against terrorism, as Khaled was involved in terrorist activities in the past.
This related to her involvement in the hijacking of two planes in 1969 and 1970 as a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
The visit of Khaled to South Africa, at the invitation of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) group, has been met with strong criticism by the Israeli lobby in South Africa.
She has addressed gatherings, organised by BDS, across the country during the past few days.
ACDP MP Cheryllyn Dudley said Khaled should not have been invited for Thursday’s event, yet she was being glorified.
“Leila Khaled’s presence in South Africa and at Sona is inappropriate as Khaled is being elevated and esteemed precisely because of her terrorist activities rather than any attempt to work towards the development of Palestine and the Palestinian people, democratic solutions and peace,” Dudley said.
“Yes, our South African heroes of the struggle were once referred to as terrorists, but they have embraced democracy and nation-building and do not travel glamourising terrorism,” she said.
Muhammed Desai of BDS welcomed the invitation of Khaled to attend the Sona.
“Leila Khaled has inspired many liberation leaders, not just in South Africa but across the world,” Desai said.
“Khaled attending Sona is a sign of the great respect South Africans have for her and her incredible commitment towards the self-determination and freedom of Palestine,” Desai said.
He added that Khaled had been welcomed with open arms by South Africans across the spectrum and the ruling party during her visits to Soweto, Port Elizabeth, Pretoria, Mbombela, Newcastle and Cape Town.
Khaled’s attendance of Sona was a sign that the country was a friend of Palestine, and this was not by chance, but had been a position since the day Nelson Mandela swept into office in May 1994, Desai said.
“The ANC had often referred to its liberation struggle as being interlinked to that of the Palestine people.
“The ruling party often quotes Mandela’s statement that the liberation of South Africa will not be complete without the liberation of the people of Palestine,” Desai added.
The Star