On the 8th of June, the permanent missions of South Africa and Namibia to the United Nations (UN) in New York jointly hosted a virtual side event in partnership with the State of Palestine on "The importance of upholding the principles of self-determination and non-discrimination – justice for the Palestinian people". The side event was moderated by the Nelson Mandela Foundation and served as an integral component of the UN's Nelson Mandela Decade for Peace. The side event sought to explore the steps required from the international community through the UN to uphold international law with respect to eliminating racial discrimination, including full enforcement of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Apartheid Convention, the Rome Statute, and other relevant international covenants and UN resolutions to ensure that the rights of the Palestinian people guaranteed under international law but for too long rendered inaccessible to them, are finally achieved.
The panellists were:
- Dr Naledi Pandor, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa
- Honourable Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (MP), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of Namibia
- Mr Riyadh al-Malki, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine
- Professor John Dugard, former UN Special Rapporteur on the Violation of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
- Attorney Michael Sfard, Israeli human rights lawyer
- Ms Nada Awad, International advocacy officer at the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)
- Ms Rania Muhareb, from Al-Haq Organisation, a Palestinian human rights organisation
- Mr Omar Shakir, Israel and Palestine Director of Human Rights Watch
The session was co-moderated by Mr Sello Hatang, Chief Executive Officer of the Nelson Mandela Foundation and Ms Sumaya Hendricks, Acting Dialogue and Advocacy Manager at the Foundation. Mr. Hatang began the convening by outlining the inalienable human rights all nations are entitled to – equality, non-discrimination and fundamental freedoms, pillars of justice the Palestinian people have long been deprived of. Hatang went on to recount Nelson Mandela’s commitment to enhancing freedom and equality not only in South Africa but abroad. As the plight of Palestine so vividly mirrored that of Black South Africans under apartheid, the call to bring peace and prosperity to the people of Palestine became all the more essential to Madiba and even after his passing remains a priority for the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
Minister Pandor commenced the discussion by outlining the grave injustices the Israeli state has inflicted against the Palestinian people. In the last five decades and more of military occupation, Israel have engineered systems that limit the freedoms of Palestinians, displaced thousands of families and have established illegal settlements. Minister Pandor concluded by urging the global community to deepen efforts to eradicate the scourge of racism and discrimination. Honourable Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah echoed the sentiments of Minister Pandor by vehemently condemning Israel’s persistent acts of persecution, domination and discrimination against the Palestinian people. The reign of terror that has been a reality for many of those in the occupied territories carries a strong resemblance to the realities that were faced by Namibians not too long ago, and that shared experience has necessitated the Namibian government playing a role in bringing justice to Palestinians.
Mr Riyadh al-Malki shared striking accounts of the violent acts that Israeli military forces had perpetrated against Palestinians in contravention of International law and the innate human rights all people are entitled to. Al-Maliki spoke on how the human rights violations endured by Palestinians throughout the years had been normalised and listed a number of ways that these injustices could be addressed. Firstly, recognising the Israeli colonial occupation as illegal. Secondly, mobilising support from the global community. Thirdly, challenging Israel’s apartheid regime and fourth, boycotting all companies that benefit from
the Israeli apartheid regime – to name a few. Professor John Dugard emphasised the importance of the international community - "without the support of states throughout the globe to hold Israel to account" the call to justice will once again fall short.
As a Jewish-Israeli on the panel, Attorney Michael Sfard gave a rich perspective. He shared his great disappointment and sadness at the atrocities his people had imposed on the Palestinian people for decades. He assisted Yesh Din, an Israeli Human Rights organisation in publishing a report that revealed detailed accounts that corroborated the view of Israel as an apartheid state that went beyond mere "occupation". Ms Nada Awad and Ms Rania Muhareb reminded attendees that the recent resurgence of protests follows years of severe oppression and that without meaningful action from the international community the harsh reality of the Palestinian people will continue to unfold.
Mr Omar Shakir from Human Rights Watch concluded by urging heads of state to act swiftly on ways to support the dismantling of Israel’s Apartheid state, and furthermore recognise the imperative role international organisations and global states are required to play in bringing justice and peace to the people of Palestine. A report published in April 2021 by Human Rights Watch, entitled "A Threshold Crossed":, makes the argument that Israel is now best understood as an apartheid state.