Cape Town - The Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) says the decision taken by the ANC to direct government to immediately downgrade the South African embassy in Israel to a liaison office is a move in the right direction.
MJC deputy president Moulana Abdul Khaliq Allie, said: “The South African government need to implement this decision, it is a step in the right right direction and for the South African government to ensure that this particular resolution is implemented.”
He said the decision showed that the ruling party is determined to protect the rights of the minorities.
The council together with other religious leaders embarked on a protest in Cape Town earlier this month to call upon the ruling party to downgrade South African embassy in Israel. The protest followed US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital city.
Allie said the decision taken by the party's subcommittee on International Relations gives great hope for the aspiration of the Palestinian people in their determination for their freedom and liberation.
“We need to put our fingers on this particular matter as part of the solidarity.
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ANC resolves to downgrade Israel Embassy "immediately and unconditionally,” said Allie.
ANC Western Cape provincial secretary Faiez Jacobs said the resolution was widely supported by all provinces but more particularly ANC members.
“We hope that this practical solidarity will assist in pressuring Israel to end its human rights abuses, apartheid policies and and violations of international. Until then the struggle of the people of Palestine is our struggle just as how our struggle was once their struggle,” said Jacobs.
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Jacobs has previously assured that the ANC in the province would push for the downgrading of South Africa’s embassy in Israel during the party’s elective conference which took place over the weekend.
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“We as the ANC in the Western Cape with our comrades in other provinces will begin mobilisation to ensure the immediate and unconditional implementation of this resolution,”he added.
The Islamic Resistance Movement has also welcomed the resolution adopted at the party's 54th National Conference.
However, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies and the Zionist Federation have condemned the ANC’s resolution citing that it will have a detrimental effect on South Africa.