We are particularly concerned since there is a current matter in front of the Constitutional Court between COSATU and the SA Jewish Board of Deputies, involving the Israeli-Palestinian issue. The Chief Justice having participated in such an overtly political event hosted by the Jerusalem Post and the Chief Rabbi, when this matter is in front of his court, is considered improper at worst or highly questionable in the very least.
Furthermore, Mogoeng displays utter disregard for international law in his support for Israel, a regime that is a serial violator of UN resolutions and international law. The Chief Justice conflates the modern political entity, the racist State of Israel that was created in 1948, with the Biblical Land of Israel. In the process he does a disservice to the Palestinian Christians who are descendants of the first followers of Jesus Christ. He insults the Christians of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ, and those who live in Jerusalem, who are currently living under a brutal Israeli occupation – deemed unlawful by South Africa together with most other countries and the UN.
Just recently the Anglican Church of South African, the Methodist Church of South Africa (of which Nelson Mandela hailed from), the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, the Council of African Independent Churches, the South African Council of Churches and several others have publicly come out in support of freedom and justice for the Palestinian people and some have even adopted certain boycott of Israel resolutions. We are proud of these churches and church leaders who are speaking for the Palestinian Christians and for the oppressed Palestinian masses.
The Chief Justice mentions that Nelson Mandela should guide us on this issue of Israel and Palestine, Mandela said: “If one has to refer to any of the parties as a terrorist state, one might refer to the Israeli government, because they are the people who are slaughtering defenceless and innocent Arabs in the occupied [Palestinian] territories, and we don’t regard that as acceptable.”
We will update the media and our supporters in due course regarding the JSC complaint.
ISSUED BY TISETSO MAGAMA ON BEHALF OF AFRICA4PALESTINE
Spokesperson, Tisetso Magama: +27 (0) 61 414 6348
Director, Muhamemd Desai: +27 (0) 84 211 9988
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