Israeli trip haunts DA MP
DA MP Emma Powell.
Image: FILE
THE South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) has distanced itself from views expressed by speakers at an event organised by its Western Cape branch, where DA MP Emma Powell came under fire from a group of people over her recent 'fact-finding' mission in Israel.
Powell was a keynote speaker at the event on Wednesday. The topic of discussion was South Africa's strategic goals within the G20 and its bilateral relations with the US, the European Union and BRICS+ partners.
'The presence of Ms Powell, given her and the DA's position on the Israel-Palestine conflict, led to protests and a breakdown of the event due to security concerns. It is important to clarify that SAIIA has active branches in Cape Town (Western Cape) and Pietermaritzburg, each with volunteer committees that independently organise their own events. This particular event was organised and hosted by the Western Cape branch. The views expressed by speakers at SAIIA events do not necessarily represent the viewpoints or endorsement of the Institute and/or its National Council. SAIIA supports a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, one which recognises the rights of both peoples living west of the Jordan River. The ongoing war in Gaza is not only a humanitarian tragedy that has seen tens of thousands of civilians die, but also inimical to an enduring peace," the institute said on Thursday.
MPs from the DA, PA and the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) visited Israel on a trip organised by the South African Friends of Israel, who said the MPs will be able to confirm that there was no evidence of apartheid and, to the contrary, Israel is a vibrant progressive multi-racial society.
Image: South African Friends of Israel
'We acknowledge that the speaker's position on the Israel-Palestine conflict – which is a historical and significant issue within South Africa's broader international relations – is at odds with the deeply held convictions of many in South Africa and the global community. SAIIA is committed to fostering open and robust discussions on critical issues, recognising that diverse viewpoints are crucial to provide informed perspectives.'
Along with other MPs from the DA, PA and the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), Powell visited Israel on a trip organised by the South African Friends of Israel, who said the MPs will be able to confirm that there was no evidence of apartheid and, to the contrary, Israel is a vibrant progressive multi-racial society.
Powell's silence on what she witnessed was said to have been the cause of the protest.
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In a video circulating on social media, a woman identifying herself as a DA voter is heard shouting while Powell is on the podium: 'What is inappropriate is the slaughter in Gaza. The children are dying, have you seen the photographs? Did you visit the Westbank, you said it was a fact-finding mission, it's not a fact-finding mission, you are biased. I am happy to leave this room with my head held high. There are a bunch of disbelievers to the truth. There is a genocide. This is not what I voted for. I ask everybody in this room to find your conscience.'
Another woman gets up holding a poster with images on it, saying 'babies are starving'. A third woman shouts, 'Emma talks about Putin but she doesn't talk about her friend Netanyahu. You talk about your degree but you don't know what apartheid is.. When it's staring (you) in the face. Shame on you, shame on you, 18 000 children".
SAIIA conceded that its Western Cape branch should have been sensitive to the context and ensured a diversity of viewpoints by including panellists across the political divide.
'We will be working with all our branches to ensure the inclusion of balanced perspectives in all future events,' the entity said.
SAIIA describes itself as an 'independent public policy think tank advancing a well-governed, peaceful, economically sustainable and globally engaged Africa'.
Palestine Solidarity Campaign's (PSC) Ayesha Bagus, who said she was one of the women who disrupted Powell's talk, said she took issue with: 'Emma's visit to Israel, her refusal to publicly condemn the documented genocide and apartheid against Palestinians, and her silence on critical questions: Who funded her trip? Did she visit occupied Palestine? Did she witness the suffering of Palestinians? There is no room for neutrality.
"The organisers claimed Emma would confirm that there is no apartheid in Israel. But her silence speaks volumes. As a South African, I will not allow our platforms to be used to deny the suffering of other oppressed people. Our history demands that we stand with the oppressed, not with those who silence them.'
When contacted by the Cape Times, Powell repeatedly refused to comment on the incident.
'I have no comment on that. My position is very clearly articulated in all the DA's policy statements; those are only statements that I have made. I stand for full Palestinian statehood and a peaceful two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in peace. I've got no comment on what happened last night."
Asked about what she observed in Israel, she added: 'You can go and read those statements, those statements are self explanatory. They were issued by the South African Friends of Israel not by me or the DA. That was a private trip taken under my private capacity. I made no statement and that's very clear. My comment for the media is no comment.'
Cape Times
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