Cii News | 27 September 2012

Palestinian solidarity organisations in South Africa are to launch an umbrella body to continue the efforts for justice in the face of an Israeli occupation.

Amongst the organisations leading the new formation is South Africa’s powerful trade union federation, Cosatu.

The objectives of the coalition include the development of a collective assessment of the existing conditions within Palestine and in the Palestinian solidarity movements as well as the prospects for solidarity activity.

To this end participants will seek to agree on;

The founding principles, organisation, structure, and coordination for a successful CfP.

Develop a clear, well-coordinated and sustained programme of action and solidarity activities in support of Palestine.

Continue to build the relationship between the various formations making up the CfP.

Welcome new organisations wishing to join the CfP and create a public awareness around the CfP and its solidarity plans.

The historic public launch of the coalition was scheduled to take place on Friday, 28 September 2012, beginning at 9am at Cosau House in Johannesburg.

The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) has welcomed the launch.

“It is about time we offer our assistance and solidarity to the oppressed people of Palestine, who are amongst the last remaining people who are experiencing apartheid – the kind of apartheid which many believe is worse than what we experienced in our dark days of apartheid,” they said in a statement.

Through the CfP, the union said it would implement an important resolution that seeks to engage every South African municipality to ensure that there are no commercial, academic, cultural, sporting or other linkages whatsoever with the Israeli regime.