March to Israeli Embassy 27- 07 - 06

Mass action on Friday in protest against genocide in the Middle East

COSATU calls on workers to join the marches against Israeli government

The Congress of South African Trade Unions urges all its members, all workers and all peace-loving South Africans to join the rolling mass action in protest against the Israeli government’s brutal assault on the people of Palestine and Lebanon.

On Friday, 28th July 2006, thousands of people will converge on the Israeli embassy in Lynwood, Pretoria, to condemn the Israeli military regime, to call on the South African government to recall the South African ambassador from Tel Aviv and to end all diplomatic relations with the apartheid Israeli state, to call for trade and other sanctions on Israel and to demand that South Africans that serve (in any capacity) in the Israeli Occupation Forces be prosecuted under the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act.

Marchers will gather at the Frik Eloff Park, corner Rosemary and Lynwood Roads, Lynwood, Pretoria, at 13:45. They will then march to the Israeli embassy where a rally will be held.

· Also tomorrow: Cape Town Friday evening, 28 July: There will be a screening of the film about the life of Leila Khaled at 18h00 at the BoKaap Civic Centre, followed by a candlelight march from there to St George’s Cathedral, at 20h00.

From the statement by the Palestine Solidarity Committee:

Despite widespread condemnation from people around the world, Israel has snubbed its nose at the world and, confident in the knowledge that it has the uncritical backing of the United States, continues its genocide in Gaza and Lebanon.

In South Africa, a variety of organisations have condemned the brutal actions of the Israeli Occupation Forces for their destruction of civilian infrastructure and callous and murderous disregard for and destruction of human lives.

Across the country, a number of groups have decided on a programme of rolling mass action to protest against the Israeli-imposed wars in Gaza and Lebanon. Last week saw the beginning of the programme of mass action with large public meetings in Soweto, Lenasia, Mayfair and Cape Town. Many of these rallies were addressed by Leila Khaled, icon of the Palestinian struggle and member of the Palestinian National Council.

For more information, call:
Salim, of the Palestine solidarity Committee - 082 802 5936

or

Patrick Craven (National Spokesperson)
Congress of South African Trade Unions
1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets
Braamfontein, 2017