The Israeli lobby has been trying all sorts of tactics to move the ANC away from its principle of progressive internationalism and solidarity with oppressed peoples of eSwatini (Swaziland) and Palestine, but without success. SA Zionist Federation chair Ben Swartz was trying again in his letter “ANC Must Consider Consequences of Alliance With Antisemitic Group BDS” (May 23). First, there is the usual claim of antisemitism. Then they try to isolate individual leaders in the ANC who articulate and implement the  government policy on Palestine. We saw this when they came for Obed Bapela, ridiculously accusing him of antisemitism; Jessie Duarte, Lindiwe Sisulu and Naledi Pandor of being “anti-Israel”. These are ludicrous attempts to isolate the individuals from the organisation and scare them from speaking out on positions of the organisation as it pertains to Palestine. The ANC’s decision to identify unambiguously as an internationalist organisation is embedded in our history, the hist...

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