Haaretz
Cheshvan 2, 5765
CAPE TOWN - Hundreds of
Muslims in South Africa marked the start of the holy month of Ramadan with
marches Saturday to protest a visit next week by Israel's Deputy Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert.
Olmert is expected in the country next week
to discuss strengthening economic ties with South Africa.
"Suddenly
economics is more important than human suffering," said Mandla Sishi of
the Palestinian Solidarity Group, which helped organize a demonstration in
Cape Town, one of three major cities where rallies were staged.
"We
call on our government to cease negotiations with Israel. Impose sanctions
on Israel now," Sishi told a crowd of about 500 people gathered outside
the District Six mosque at the foot of Table Mountain.
Marchers
waved placards reading, "Death to Israel," "Sharon the butcher" and "Stop
the holocaust in Palestine."
The crowd sang old liberation songs
borne out of the struggle against South Africa's racist apartheid
government. The crowd chanted "Amandla Awethu" (Power to the people) and
"Phantsi Israel"(Down with Israel).
Protest leaders also delivered
a letter of demands to the regional government in the Western Cape
province. The letter called on South Africa to cancel Olmert's visit and
make efforts to isolate Israel internationally, including by severing
diplomatic links and imposing sanctions.
South Africa has held a
number of meetings with Palestinian and Israeli representatives throughout
more than four years of fighting in a bid to help the sides find common
ground.
Regional Prime Minister Ebrahim Rasool said he would
forward the protesters' letter to the foreign affairs
ministry.
Another of the demonstration's organizers, Ebrahim
Gabriels of the Muslim Judicial Council, said members of Hamas and other
violent Palestinian groups behind suicide bombings and other attacks in
Israel were not terrorists. Like South Africa's anti-apartheid movements,
they are fighting for freedom, he said.
"Hamas is not a terrorist
group. The apartheid government once called the African National Congress
terrorists, but we said no ... they are liberators," he
said.
Gabriels said his movement supported Hamas "100 percent,"
drawing cheers and raised fists from the crowd.
Marchers also
gathered in the cities of Durban and Johannesburg.