Palestinian Legislative Council calls for an international Parliamentary Lobby Group to isolate Israel

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) hailed the recommendations issued by South African Parliament in support of Palestinian people, calling for an international Parliamentary lobby to isolate the Israeli entity.

Dr. Ahmed Bahar, the PLC First Deputy Speaker, praised the South African Parliament's recommendations in support of Palestinian cause and national reconciliation, and in particular its resolutions to boycott Israeli settlements' products and to facilitate Palestinians' travel to South Africa.

He said that these recommendations prove the Palestinian and South African good relations, and emphasize the justice of the Palestinian cause and legitimate rights.

South Africa's Parliamentary Portfolio Committee had held a "Solidarity Conference in Support of the Peoples of Palestine, Western Sahara and Cuba" on Thursday, 6th February. The conference issued a number of resolutions and recommendations on Palestine:

1. South Africa has a legal obligation under the Rome Statute to set up a special court to deal with war crimes, this needs to be urgently set up. South Africa must expeditiously deal with the "Gaza Docket" and deal with South Africans serving in the Israeli Army.

2. The 2009 Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) report that found Israel guilty of Apartheid should be adopted by South Africa's Parliament and by the South African government. The HSRC report must also be referred to international bodies including the International Parliamentary Union, the International Criminal Court, the United Nations and the African Union.

3. South Africa has a legal obligation and must stop all financial transactions with Israeli settlement companies as well as banks and companies involved in the Israeli settlements. This would be in line with developments in Europe and other countries.

4. On the global arena South Africa must lobby for the financial and other support of the Palestinians for socioeconomic development after the end of the illegal Israeli occupation.

5. The South African government must support Palestinian students, as a concrete act of solidarity, similar to how India, Cuba and other countries supported South Africa during the 1980s.

6. Entrance into South Africa for Palestinians must be made easier.

7. The Palestinian health system must be supported beyond people capacity. Infrastructure in Gaza, West Bank and refugee camps must be supported.

8. Conference supports the Robben Island Declaration for the freedom of Marwan Barghouti and all Palestinian Political prisoners.

9. Conference supports the Palestinian-led call for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) issued by the majority of Palestinians. Complete military, financial and political sanctions must be applied against Israel until it complies with all applicable UN resolutions and international law and ends its occupation.

10. All South African political parties must clearly communicate their stance on the plight of the Palestinian people and make it timorously known in the build-up to 2014 elections.

11. Witness and solidarity visits to Palestine should be encouraged, for example, through the World Council of Churches EAPPI program.

12. South Africa should build and strengthen an international diplomatic block in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

13. The South African government and parliament must campaign for Israel to be suspended from the SWIFT banking network.

14. Palestinian reconciliation efforts must be encouraged and supported.

15. Our government and parliament must table the above at the AU, UN and IPU.

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