Congratulations to the Student Representative Council of the University of the Witwatersrand

WITS SRC ResolutionDon’t Play Apartheid Israel [DPAI] would like to extend our warmest congratulations to the Student Representative Council [SRC] of the University of the Witwatersrand on its unanimous principled resolution to support boycott, divestment and sanctions of Israel. This is an immense breakthrough which will immeasurably strengthen the global boycott of apartheid Israel. The resolution states that the University will “not participate in any form of cultural or academic collaboration or joint projects with Israeli institutions and will not provide support to Israeli cultural or academic institutions”.

We recognise that the SRC may come under significant pressure for its embrace of the Palestinian call for BDS, and wish to extend our support in firm solidarity. We look toward the day when Palestinian people have attained their just rights and freedom.

In solidarity,

Don’t Play Apartheid [DPAI]

Don’t Play Apartheid Israel (DPAI) is a group of over 900 members which seeks to inform musicians of the Palestinian call to boycott Israel, and the extent to which their decision to play in the apartheid state will be instrumentalized – against their will – as propaganda for the maintenance of a horrifying status quo in Israel/Palestine: that is a brutal, decades-long occupation, ongoing ethnic cleansing, continual land theft, passing of over 20 racist laws within Israel/’48, and the crackdown on human rights groups. We represent over 900 members from around the globe who believe that it is essential for musicians & other artists to heed the call of the PACBI, and join in the boycott of Israel.

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Calls for cultural and academic boycotts of Israel are echoing similar calls against South Africa until the end of Apartheid.

South Africa’s University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) Student Representative Council (SRC) unanimously adopted a full academic and cultural boycott of Israel.

DPAI Support Ground-Breaking South African Policy Against Apartheid Israel

It is with much pleasure that Don’t Play Apartheid Israel applauds the ground-breaking policy of the South African government expressed by Deputy Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, Ebrahim Ebrahim, to discourage South Africans from visiting Israel.

As Ebrahim said, Israel is indeed “an occupying power and is doing all sorts of things in the Palestine occupied territory which has been condemned by the entire international community.

The Russell Commission and South African Human Sciences Research Council have affirmed Israel perpetrates systematic apartheid and colonialism, both crimes against humanity, on the Palestinian people. Rather than meet its obligations under international law, Israel continues to expand its illegal settlements in the West Bank, torture Palestinian detainees held without charge or trial, deny Palestinian Israelis equal rights and Palestinians in the Occupied Territories even basic human rights, collectively punish through closure the entire population of Gaza and many other war crimes and human rights abuses.

Thus, we deplore the scurrilous attack by the South African Zionist Federation on the South African government for its principled policy. We encourage the South African government to remain firm and expand its support to embrace fully the principles of the Palestinian-led call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, in order that Palestinians gain justice and freedom, despite predictable international pressure brought to bear on Israel’s behalf.

The Israeli ambassador, Dov Segev-Steinberg, demonstrates a flawed understanding of history and the process of liberation when he refers to ‘the South African way of dialogue to promote peace’, as, without justice, there can be no reconciliation. The South African government is acting in a way that will facilitate justice.

DPAI

Don’t Play Apartheid Israel (DPAI) seeks to inform musicians of the Palestinian call to boycott Israel, and the extent to which their decision to play in the apartheid state will be instrumentalized – against their will – as propaganda for the maintenance of a horrifying status quo in Israel/Palestine: that there is a brutal, decades-long occupation, ongoing ethnic cleansing, continual land theft, passing of over 20 racist laws within Israel/’48, and the crackdown on human rights groups. We represent over 900 members from around the globe who believe that it is essential for musicians and other artists to heed the call of the PACBI, and join in the boycott of Israel.

Related Links

PCHR welcomes South African govt decision to label illegal Israeli settlement goods
South Africa approves ‘Made in Palestinian Territories’ tags
South Africa boycotts products labeled ‘Made in Israel’
South Africa is right. Labeling Israeli settler products is truth in advertising

Congratulations to the students at the Wit Uni, who have strengthened the boycott against apartheid Israel: ‘The resolution states that the University will “not participate in any form of cultural or academic collaboration or joint projects with Israeli institutions and will not provide support to Israeli cultural or academic institutions”.
South African ziolobby attempts lawfare against the SA government labelling of illegal settlement products
After the unanimous resolution in support of BDS of the Wits Students Representative Council, the Wits University deplorably distances itself from boycott of apartheid Israel