South Africa protest denounce Israeli abuses

Scores of pro-Palestinian activists protested in front of the Israeli Embassy’s Trade Office in Johannesburg Friday to condemn Israel’s detaining of Palestinian people without trial.

Ronnie Kasrils, a former South African intelligence minister and an anti-apartheid activist, called for the immediate release of all Palestinian political prisoners.

He urged the South African government to end all diplomatic and trade ties with Israel until Palestinians were allowed to be free.

“It’s time to close down the Israel embassy and its trade office until Palestinian people are free,” Kasrils said amidst cheers from a group of activists waving placards condemning Israel’s rights abuses.

He said South Africa should not remain silent on the Palestinian issue, especially after former President Nelson Mandela said: “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”

The protest organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign was also endorsed by a number of ex-political prisoners from the former South African liberation movements.