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Dismantling Israeli Apartheid Statement
The B
ritish government has delayed Zwelivelile ‘Mandla’ Mandela departure for Britain for a tour to discuss how we can learn the lessons of the South African anti-apartheid movement to dismantle Israeli apartheid. This comes after press reports that pro-Israel have lobbied the British government to ensure Mandela is refused entry because of his support of the right of Palestinian and Lebanese people to resist colonialism, apartheid and occupation.
There are striking parallels between then-British Government treatment of Nelson Mandela and their current banning by devious means of his grandson, Mandla Mandela from entering the country. Previous governments treated Nelson Mandela as a rightfully convicted terrorist who deserved 27 years’ incarceration on Robben Island for his resistance to a brutal racist regime. But there was also widespread popular revulsion at apartheid in South Africa; cities across the country gave Mandela 'Freedom of the City' while he was incarcerated in South Africa.
The current Government of Keir Starmer, an outspoken supporter of Israeli genocide, is reprising Margaret Thatcher's pro- apartheid, anti- Mandela role by preventing Mandela's grandson, Mandla Mandela, from visiting Britain to speak at meetings on South Africa's charge of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice, a charge the Court has judged to be 'plausible', i.e. probably true. Neither this ICJ position nor the decision of the ICC Chief Prosecutor to seek charges against the Israeli Prime Minister and Defence Minister for war crimes and crimes against humanity has prevented the accused from entering the country freely.
With British support, Israel is carrying out in full view its public threat to inflict on Lebanon the same barbarities it has visitedon the people of Gaza, yet British citizens are being prevented from hosting a significant international voice in support of Palestinian freedom. A government that supports crimes against humanity in Palestine will inevitably try to repress dissident voices at home.
Mandla Mandela will still address each of the eight UK meetings by Zoom from South Africa. Unlike London, the Irish Government has made no attempt to prevent his meeting in Dublin.
Dismantling Israeli Apartheid Tour Organising Committee
