@EFFSouthAfrica
@EFFSouthAfrica
The EFF have begun their march from Church Square to the Israeli Embassy in Pretoria, to show their support for the state of Palestine.
They have chosen today, as it is the 100th anniversary of the ‘Balfour Declaration’; a contentious piece of legislation held largely responsible for the divisions between Israel and Palestine to this day. The red berets turned up in their numbers to make themselves heard.
Crowds Gather for EFF ‘Free Palestine’ demonstration
#FreePalestine: EFF picket outside the Apartheid Israel Embassy in Pretoria has started pic.twitter.com/DRZIYTw2wO
— EFF (@EFFSouthAfrica) November 2, 2017
#FreePalestine: CIC @Julius_S_Malema has arrived at the picket against Apartheid Israel pic.twitter.com/JLlHXsA96X
— EFF (@EFFSouthAfrica) November 2, 2017
What is the Balfour Declaration?
On November 2nd 1917, the then-Foreign Secretary of Great Britain – Arthur Balfour – made a pact with the Zionist Movement. He promised that the UK government would consider helping Jewish people establish a permanent national home in Palestine.
However, this lead to countless amounts of land disputes, fights over territory and the divisive partitioning of Palestinians and Jewish Israelis we see today. The EFF firmly believe that the state of Palestine has been systematically persecuted, and their march is to ‘show solidarity’ with them.
Watch: Thousands march in Cape Town to demand SA cuts ties with Israel
The National Coalition for Palestine welcomed the actions of the red berets. Reverend of the group Edwin Arrison said it was a ‘brave decision’ for them to show their support in this manner:
“I think it’s very courageous for them to do it. They are the one party that’s standing up for the rights of the Palestinian people. So we really welcome it and we thank them for organising the march today”
When addressing the crowds, party leader Julius Malema thanked his followers for supporting a cause that people ‘may not have an immediate interest in’. He also praised the protesters for coming out in full force.
