PRESS RELEASE OF THE EMBASSY OF PALESTINE

Pretoria, 05 March 2015

The Palestinian Embassy in South Africa is aware that Bassem Eid claiming to be a human rights activist is currently in South Africa as a guest of the pro-Israeli lobby. The agenda of this visitor, it would seem, is to undermine the current nationwide 11th international Palestine solidarity campaign “Israeli Apartheid Week“. The so called activist also attempts to discredit the South African human rights organisation BDS South Africa. We wish to set the record straight, this person does not represent the Palestinian Embassy in South Africa nor the Government of Palestine. In fact, we condemn the childish efforts by the Israeli lobby to try to undermine IAW by employing the expired tactic of using discredited and unrepresentative voices.

Many Palestinians when they hear the words of Bassem Eid they feel ashamed, we distance ourselves from this man and what he represents. The Embassy of the State of Palestine wants to state it categorically that we fully support and appreciate all the Palestine solidarity organisations in this country, the BDS campaign and specifically Israeli Apartheid Week. The Embassy would like to confirm that Eid’s approach of blaming the victim does not help the Palestinian interest in any way.

The Palestinian Embassy in South Africa is proud to be one of the participants in this year’s Israeli Apartheid Week campaign which has the support and endorsement of over 85 South African organisations including SA’s ruling party, the ANC.

But we are confident that the South African people will see through this Israeli ploy as Apartheid South Africa also sent “good blacks” to whitewash Apartheid’s crimes. Likewise Eid (and Gabriel Nadaf) are being used to whitewash Israel’s Apartheid policies.

Thank you to all peace loving South Africans that have taken to the streets and onto their University campuses during this international campaign and pledging solidarity with Palestine and her people, we have no doubt that one day (soon) all Palestinian refugees will return home to a free Palestine.

Representatives from the Palestinian Embassy will be speaking at various BDS South Africa hosted Israeli Apartheid Week events including the some events with SA Government officials from the ANC.

Statement issued by Tamer ALMASSRI, Media & Culture Officer, Embassy of the State of Palestine, March 5 2015

http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71654?oid=1005247&sn=Detail&pid=71616

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