Africa-Press – Angola. <\/strong><\/span>South Africa\u2019s history of apartheid gives it a unique perspective of and commitment to solidarity with those who are living under similar conditions. South Africa\u2019s case at the International Court of Justice is an important moment for South Africa as well as Palestine.<\/b><\/p>\nWhen Vusi Madonsela, South Africa\u2019s ambassador to the Netherlands, introduced Justice Minister Ronald Lamola and the legal team representing South Africa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague on 11 January, the nation held its collective breath in anticipation.<\/p>\n
Since the government\u2019s announcement on 29 December 2023, that it was approaching the ICJ under the Genocide Convention regarding \u201cacts committed by Israel\u201d in its ongoing conflict in Gaza, many in progressive circles have applauded this principled stance.<\/p>\n
As survivors of apartheid, South Africans possess a unique perspective to identify when apartheid is unfolding. It instils a dedication to international solidarity to prevent others from enduring the hardships we faced.<\/p>\n
The government\u2019s case was grounded in profound apprehensions about the \u201cplight of civilians caught in the present Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip\u201d due to the indiscriminate use of force and forcible removal of inhabitants. It argued that international crimes, including crimes against humanity and war crimes, were being committed. Furthermore, there were reports of acts that met the threshold of genocide or related crimes, as defined in the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide, occurring in Gaza.<\/p>\n
Granted, South Africa is a nation with diverse perspectives, including supporters of Israel. The SA Jewish Board of Deputies criticised the government for taking Israel to the ICJ, accusing it of failing \u201cto play a role in talking to both sides\u201d.<\/p>\n
Similarly, the official opposition, the Democratic Alliance, opposed the government\u2019s decision, arguing that South Africa was \u201ctaking sides\u201d and had \u201cscuppered the opportunity to play a neutral, mediatory role\u201d in the conflict.<\/p>\n
Cathartic moment<\/p>\n
For many ordinary South Africans, who experienced apartheid first hand and continue to live with its physical and emotional scars, as well as its legacies of racialised inequality, the case was a cathartic moment.<\/p>\n
Voices were given a platform to articulate the profound impact of apartheid oppression, akin to the ongoing situation in Palestine. The proceedings at the ICJ yielded a similar effect to Archbishop Desmond Tutu\u2019s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) which was envisioned as a crucial space to confront the architects of oppression, including agents such as the ruthless Vlakplaas unit, a notorious apartheid hit squad. Vlakplaas, a farm west of Pretoria, served as the headquarters of the apartheid\u2019s security branch, from where orders and many brutalities against freedom fighters were executed. For those who once suffered in silence, this wasn\u2019t just about the Palestinians; it was about their own healing as well.<\/p>\n
The TRC, designed to uncover the truth, empowered victims to recount their harrowing experiences, providing a long-awaited chance to confront those accountable for injustice. It became a symbolic arena where the silenced could reclaim their narratives and unveil the extent of their suffering. The scars of apartheid run deep and found acknowledgement in the TRC\u2019s role in the healing process. Testimonies went beyond personal pain, evolving into testaments of resilience and the unwavering spirit of those who endured oppression.<\/p>\n
The proceedings at the ICJ evoked these memories, providing a rare opportunity for the Palestinian version to be aired on an international stage. Their experiences of oppression and suffering were laid bare and exposed for the world to witness. This significant moment not only allowed for the expression of their plight but also served as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for justice and freedom.<\/p>\n
It is imperative to recognise that the healing process is continuous. While the TRC was a stride towards reconciliation, it illuminated the intricate nature of forgiveness in the face of profound trauma. It sparked dialogues about justice, accountability, and the shared responsibility for a more equitable future.<\/p>\n
While celebrating South Africa\u2019s principled stance, we must acknowledge the strength and courage of those who spoke out, along with the challenges persisting in the pursuit of genuine justice. The ICJ case serves as a poignant reminder that the journey toward truth and reconciliation demands persistent commitment and vigilance, as we collectively endeavour to construct a nation liberated from the shadows of its painful past.<\/p>\n
This necessitates a dedication to international solidarity to prevent others from enduring the hardships we faced. It is precisely this commitment that fuels our support for the struggle of the Palestinian people, drawing parallels between their suffering and our own experience with apartheid.<\/p>\n
Unfolding apartheid in Palestine<\/p>\n
As survivors of apartheid, South Africans possess a unique perspective to identify apartheid. One of the chief architects of apartheid, Hendrik Verwoerd, recognised parallels with Israel, describing it as an \u201capartheid state\u201d.<\/p>\n
Organisations like the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) promptly recognised the parallels with apartheid. Israeli proposals for Palestinian autonomy bear resemblance to our own bantustans strategy, which allocated a meagre 13 per cent of (largely desolate) land to the indigenous African people while the white settler community appropriated the rest of the country for itself.<\/p>\n
Comparison to South African laws and practices during the apartheid regime reveals a strong correlation with Israeli practices. Numerous aspects of Israeli life, including violations of international standards for due process (such as illegal detention), discriminatory privileges based on ascribed ethnicity (legally, as Jewish or non-Jewish), and repressive draconian laws, point to similarities between South Africa then and Israel now.<\/p>\n
For those who lived under and experienced the brutalities of apartheid, scholarly arguments and academic research on apartheid are unnecessary. What Israel is practising in Palestine seems far worse than South African apartheid.<\/p>\n
Israel\u2019s brutality is ominous. Sadly, the international community has turned a blind eye to the desperate cries of the Palestinians. Western powers, such as the US and UK, are aiding Israel instead of leveraging their influence to facilitate a lasting, peaceful solution in the Middle East.<\/p>\n
But were these not the same powers that sided with apartheid South Africa under the guise of anti-communism? They not only labelled freedom fighters like Nelson Mandela as terrorists but also designated the African National Congress (ANC), the current governing party, as a terrorist organisation.<\/p>\n
To paraphrase Karl Marx, history seems to be repeating itself \u2013 first as tragedy and now as farce.<\/p>\n
LSE<\/b><\/p>\n
For More News And Analysis About Angola<\/a> Follow Africa-Press<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"writes Mandla J Radebe. Africa-Press – Angola. South Africa\u2019s history of apartheid gives it a unique perspective of and commitment to solidarity with those who are living under similar conditions. South Africa\u2019s case at the International Court of Justice is an important moment for South Africa as well as Palestine. When Vusi Madonsela, South Africa\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":56374,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,6],"tags":[233,337,329],"class_list":["post-56375","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-files","tag-africa-press","tag-africa-press-angola","tag-angola"],"yoast_head":"\n
The similarities between Palestine and apartheid South Africa are stark - Angola<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"South Africa\u2019s history of apartheid gives it a unique perspective of and commitment to solidarity with those who are ...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The similarities between Palestine and apartheid South Africa are stark\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"South Africa\u2019s history of apartheid gives it a unique perspective of and commitment to solidarity with those who are ...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Angola\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AfricaPressTunisiaa\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-02-18T06:48:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-02-18T06:58:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/angola\/sites\/65\/2024\/02\/sm_1708226627.249057.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"cfeditoren\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/#\/schema\/person\/068c7ab4e9634ae78ec5d54ec46598bb\"},\"headline\":\"The similarities between Palestine and apartheid South Africa are stark\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-02-18T06:48:04+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-02-18T06:58:34+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark\"},\"wordCount\":1081,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/angola\/sites\/65\/2024\/02\/sm_1708226627.249057.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Africa Press\",\"Africa Press-Angola\",\"Angola\"],\"articleSection\":[\"all news\",\"files\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark\",\"name\":\"The similarities between Palestine and apartheid South Africa are stark - Angola\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/angola\/sites\/65\/2024\/02\/sm_1708226627.249057.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-02-18T06:48:04+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-02-18T06:58:34+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/#\/schema\/person\/068c7ab4e9634ae78ec5d54ec46598bb\"},\"description\":\"South Africa\u2019s history of apartheid gives it a unique perspective of and commitment to solidarity with those who are ...\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/angola\/sites\/65\/2024\/02\/sm_1708226627.249057.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/angola\/sites\/65\/2024\/02\/sm_1708226627.249057.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":800,\"caption\":\"The similarities between Palestine and apartheid South Africa are stark\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The similarities between Palestine and apartheid South Africa are stark\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/\",\"name\":\"Angola\",\"description\":\"Just another Africa News Agency Sites site\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/#\/schema\/person\/068c7ab4e9634ae78ec5d54ec46598bb\",\"name\":\"cfeditoren\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7417380fa9e23b5c57fdbfdaf3fdf92ee478f759a084addda5faa3732853e74a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7417380fa9e23b5c57fdbfdaf3fdf92ee478f759a084addda5faa3732853e74a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"cfeditoren\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The similarities between Palestine and apartheid South Africa are stark - Angola","description":"South Africa\u2019s history of apartheid gives it a unique perspective of and commitment to solidarity with those who are ...","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The similarities between Palestine and apartheid South Africa are stark","og_description":"South Africa\u2019s history of apartheid gives it a unique perspective of and commitment to solidarity with those who are ...","og_url":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark","og_site_name":"Angola","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AfricaPressTunisiaa","article_published_time":"2024-02-18T06:48:04+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-02-18T06:58:34+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":800,"url":"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/angola\/sites\/65\/2024\/02\/sm_1708226627.249057.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"cfeditoren","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"cfeditoren","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark"},"author":{"name":"cfeditoren","@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/#\/schema\/person\/068c7ab4e9634ae78ec5d54ec46598bb"},"headline":"The similarities between Palestine and apartheid South Africa are stark","datePublished":"2024-02-18T06:48:04+00:00","dateModified":"2024-02-18T06:58:34+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark"},"wordCount":1081,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/angola\/sites\/65\/2024\/02\/sm_1708226627.249057.jpg","keywords":["Africa Press","Africa Press-Angola","Angola"],"articleSection":["all news","files"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark","url":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark","name":"The similarities between Palestine and apartheid South Africa are stark - Angola","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/angola\/sites\/65\/2024\/02\/sm_1708226627.249057.jpg","datePublished":"2024-02-18T06:48:04+00:00","dateModified":"2024-02-18T06:58:34+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/#\/schema\/person\/068c7ab4e9634ae78ec5d54ec46598bb"},"description":"South Africa\u2019s history of apartheid gives it a unique perspective of and commitment to solidarity with those who are ...","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/angola\/sites\/65\/2024\/02\/sm_1708226627.249057.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/angola\/sites\/65\/2024\/02\/sm_1708226627.249057.jpg","width":1200,"height":800,"caption":"The similarities between Palestine and apartheid South Africa are stark"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/all-news\/the-similarities-between-palestine-and-apartheid-south-africa-are-stark#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The similarities between Palestine and apartheid South Africa are stark"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/","name":"Angola","description":"Just another Africa News Agency Sites site","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/#\/schema\/person\/068c7ab4e9634ae78ec5d54ec46598bb","name":"cfeditoren","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7417380fa9e23b5c57fdbfdaf3fdf92ee478f759a084addda5faa3732853e74a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7417380fa9e23b5c57fdbfdaf3fdf92ee478f759a084addda5faa3732853e74a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"cfeditoren"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56375","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/84"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56375"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56375\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/56374"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56375"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56375"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/angola\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56375"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}