Qaanitah Hunter| Cii News| October 29, 2012

Following a call by approximately 200 organizations from occupied to boycott, divest and impose sanctions on Israel because of its continued violation of international law, many activist have called on governments and companies world wide to terminate business practices with the apartheid state  a Swedish based activist said.

Adri Niewhof said that the Palestinians organizations said this global BDS campaign should be on going until Israel respects the rights of the Palestinians.

“It is focused on ending the occupation, treat Palestinians as equal citizens and allow Palestinian refugees back in to Palestine.”

Activist in Europe have began campaigns against companies that assist the occupation of Palestine in any way.

“We hope that South Africans will follow,” Niewhof said.

On Sunday an International Solidarity Conference in support of the international boycott of Israel took place in South Africa.

African National Congress (ANC) chairperson, Baleke Mbete strongly expressed solidarity with Palestine.

Niewhof said that besides a resolution to support the end to the occupation, Palestine needs to see a tangible difference.

“We have to act and we need citizens to become vocal,” she said.

She said the best way to make a tangible difference is to boycott Israel and its affiliated corporations.

Niewhof said that it would be more powerful if there would be a follow up on whatever was discussed at the conference.