DURBAN - PRO-PALESTINE organisations have welcomed the South African government’s condemnation and objection of the AU Commission’s decision to grant Israeli ambassador Aleli Admasu of Ethiopia observer status at the AU.
The AU Commission had allegedly taken this decision unilaterally, without consultation with its members.
Tisetso Magama, human rights organisation #Africa4Palestine spokesperson, said they agreed with the South African government that the decision was “unjust and unwarranted”.
“As Africa4Palestine we are working with our partners in the South African government and civil society as well as allies in other African countries to ensure that this unilateral, irregular and improper decision is immediately halted and reversed.”
Magama said South Africa played a significant role in reversing the decision of the Africa-Israel Summit that was meant to take place in Togo in 2017.
“We fully support the South African government in their demand that the chairperson of the commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, provide a briefing to all member states and for an urgent discussion by the Executive Council and the Assembly of Heads of States and Government.”
He said earlier this year, when Israel murdered over 230 Palestinians, a tragedy that allegedly included more than 60 children and three pregnant women, the AU Commission’s chairperson condemned the Israeli attacks.
“The chairperson reiterated that the Israeli army’s actions, including the continued forced, illegal evictions of Palestinians from their homes in East Jerusalem, are in stark violation of international law.”
Magama said that apartheid South Africa was not allowed into international bodies until it ended its violations of human rights; similarly, this should be applied to Israel.
Roshan Dadoo, of the South African BDS Coalition, which includes federations and labour unions, said they were pleased with the South African government’s statement.
“We would like to see this decision being reversed, especially given the fact that underhanded means were used to grant this status,” Dadoo said.
He said according to the AU’s process for accreditation of a non-African state or organisation, the chairperson should have considered the request on the basis of the Constitutive Act of the AU; relevant decisions of the AU organs; the known views and concerns of member states; and the supreme interest of the AU.
The South African government said it was appalled by the unjust and unwarranted decision of the AU Commission to grant Israel observer status in the AU.
Daily News