WEST BANK (Dispatches) – Palestinians have hailed a recent decision by South Africa’s ruling party to downgrade the country’s embassy in the occupied territories to a liaison office in an attempt to reduce diplomatic relations with the Zionist regime.
At a national policy conference in the city of Johannesburg earlier this week, the African National Congress (ANC)’s international relations commission said the move was meant to show "unwavering and steadfast commitment for the struggle” of the Palestinians and denounce the Tel Aviv regime’s illegal occupation as well as non-compliance with the international law.
"The commission called for the downgrading of the South African embassy in Israel to send a strong message about Israel’s continued illegal occupation of Palestine and continued human rights abuses against the people of Palestine,” said commission chairperson Miriam Segabutla.
In a statement, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qasim praised the ANC for taking the measure and called for more pressure on the regime to recognize the Palestinian people’s rights.
Palestinian Ambassador to South Africa Hashem Dajani also described the decision as an "advanced move to put pressure on the apartheid government of Israel in order to end occupation of the state of Palestine."
The decline in South Africa-Zionist regime ties would mark a recognition of the Palestinian right to self-determination and statehood, he added.
Most South Africans have historically supported the Palestinians due to similarities between the Zionist regime’s occupation and South Africa’s apartheid era.