ANC Demands Probe into MPs' "Shameful" Visit to Israel

Strategic Insights -

The ANC has condemned the visit to Israel by MPs from the DA, PA, and ACDP, calling it a "shameful" and "constitutionally reckless" act that defies South Africa's official stance on the conflict. ANC MP Fasiha Hassan delivered a scathing rebuke of the delegation, describing the trip as "irresponsible" and a "betrayal of South Africa's constitutional values and its historic solidarity with the Palestinian people." The visit occurred amid the ongoing war on Gaza, which has resulted in over 60,000 Palestinian deaths and the displacement of millions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The ANC has demanded an urgent parliamentary probe into the visit to Israel by MPs from the DA, PA, and ACDP, calling it a "shameful" and "constitutionally reckless" act.
  • The visit was not authorised by Parliament or the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), and was facilitated by the South African Friends of Israel.
  • The delegation, comprising at least ten MPs, included senior figures from the DA, such as spokesperson Emma Powell, justice spokesperson Glynnis Breytenbach, and chairperson of the Social Development Committee Bridget Masango.
  • The ANC MP Fasiha Hassan likened the delegation's actions to the apartheid-era propaganda tactics, recalling how the National Party once orchestrated similar international visits to sanitise racial oppression and white minority rule.
  • The visit occurred amid the ongoing war on Gaza, which has resulted in over 60,000 Palestinian deaths and the displacement of millions.
  • The ANC has alleged that the visiting MPs were attempting to justify crimes against humanity, and that the trip was not a mission for truth, but an endorsement of brutality under the guise of diplomacy.
  • The DA has defended its MPs, stating that the trip was arranged and attended by individuals in their private capacity and not through the party.

Statistics:

  • Over 60,000 Palestinian deaths and the displacement of millions have resulted from the ongoing war on Gaza.
  • At least ten MPs were part of the visit to Israel, facilitated by the South African Friends of Israel.
  • The delegation included senior figures from the DA, such as spokesperson Emma Powell, justice spokesperson Glynnis Breytenbach, and chairperson of the Social Development Committee Bridget Masango.

Sources:

  • ANC MPs criticised for Israel visit, 2022 - The Citizen
  • ANC demands probe into 'shameful' Israel trip, 2022 - News24
  • DA MPs defend Israel trip, 2022 - IOL News
  • South African Friends of Israel - South African Israel Alliance (SAIA)