On June 1, Israel’s Haaretz newspaper reported that a high-level South Africa defence ministry delegation was due to visit soon. The newspaper explained that the delegation, which would include arms manufacturers, would meet with the director-general of the Israeli defence ministry, and quoted unnamed Israeli sources as saying that a re-establishment of defence ties was on the cards. South Africa’s Palestine Solidarity Committee reacted with shock to the report, releasing a statement that said: “It is unconscionable that the ANC government, which has pledged its support for a just resolution of the Palestinian struggle for human rights and sovereignty and which is very vocal in international fora on the need for adherence to international law, can recommence military links with Israel. South Africa, under apartheid, had strong military and nuclear cooperation with Israel. Our democratic government claimed that it ceased all military ties and supply of weapons components to Israel by the late 1990s. There can be no reason to resume those links now.”

From Green Left Weekly, June 8, 2005.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

Tools

• Bookmark This Page
• Print This Page