ANC lashes Mogoeng over Israel remarks

ANC lashes Mogoeng over Israel remarks

The African National Congress (ANC) has lashed out at Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng after he lamented what he believes to be South Africa’s lopsided attitude towards the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng
Pic Courtesy: @OCJ_RSA

Mogoeng made the remarks during a webinar he took part in alongside  South Africa's chief rabbi, Warren Goldstein. 

 

During the webinar, Mogoeng said that SA's history of forgiveness and understanding should inform its approach to peace making towards the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

 

“As a citizen of our great country, we are denying ourselves a wonderful opportunity of being a game-changer in the Israeli-Palestinian situation.

 

“We know what it means to be at loggerheads, a nation at war with itself," he added.

 

“The forgiveness that was demonstrated, the understanding and big heart displayed by President Nelson Mandela and we, the people of South Africa, is an asset we must use around the world to bring peace when there is no peace and to mediate effectively based on rich experience.”


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In a statement, the ANC said its concerned that Moegoeng could be seen as supporting Israel.

 

The party says the chief justice might in the foreseeable future have to adjudicate on the issue and could have compromised himself through what it describes as political commentary. 

 

"The ANC joins fellow South Africans in expressing concern about sentiments attributed to Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng expressing his apparent support for Apartheid Israel," the statement read.

 

"The ANC has consistently expressed courageously through its successive resolutions that the contemporary State of Israel is an apartheid state.

 

"We support human rights and we stand with the oppressed Palestinians who include Christians of the Holy Land, the residents of Jerusalem and Bethlehem who are living under Israeli apartheid," the governing party said.

 

"The Chief Justice is indeed a citizen, but he is the primary protector of the Constitution of SA and if the government were in violation of the Bill of Rights he and the bench must defend the constitution above all else and any other consideration, for this reason, his disagreement with the policy of the government is of grave concern where the main argument of the policy on Palestine is premised on human rights. 

 

"The ANC respects the Office of the Chief Justice and we urge the Speaker of Parliament to have high level talks with the Chief Justice regarding his political commentary."

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