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The human rights and Palestine solidarity organisation, BDS South Africa invites our members and supporters to join today’s prayer vigil hosted at the Ebenezer Bible Church in Johannesburg.

The vigil, taking place between 18h00 and 20h00 at Plot 32 in Randfontein South, will include a night of prayer and a reflection that will address the question: “what does God have to say about freedom and justice”.

(South Africa’s Minister of Public Works speaking at the UN International Day of Solidarity with Palestine)

The Ebenezer church event, taking place today on the 29th of November, will mark an important international occasion. In 1977 the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 32/40B calling for an annual International Day of Solidarity with Palestine to be observed on the 29th of November each year to raise awareness of the Palestinian struggle. President Nelson Mandela, speaking at the 1997 UN International Day of Solidarity with Palestine, famously said:

“The temptation in our situation is to speak in muffled tones about an issue such as the right of the people of Palestine … Having achieved our own freedom, we can fall into the trap of washing our hands of difficulties that others faces. Yet we would be less than human if we did so. It behoves all South Africans, themselves erstwhile beneficiaries of generous international support, to stand up and be counted among those contributing actively to the cause of freedom and justice….When in 1977, the United Nations passed the resolution inaugurating the International Day of Solidarity with Palestine, it was asserting the recognition that injustice and gross human rights violations were being perpetrated in Palestine. In the same period, the UN took a strong stand against apartheid; and over the years, an international consensus was built, which helped to bring an end to this iniquitous system. But we know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians”

South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation held an event at its head office yesterday also marking the UN International Day of Solidarity with Palestine. The event, which BDS SA members were humbled to have attended, was addressed by South Africa’s Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Ms Patricia de Lille, who commented:

“Our Palestinian bothers and sisters continue to struggle for the recognition of their basic human rights…this day of solidarity remains again this year an urgent call for concrete action and legislation to comprehensively liberate Palestinian communities from that which unjustly limits their lives, opportunity and natural development towards a normal existence.”