The South Africa Israel Forum (SAIF) has written to BDS South Africa stating that BDS South Africa nor any other representatives or broader human rights organisations are allowed to attend today’s Israeli propaganda trip feedback session.

An email from SAIF to BDS South Africa, contradicting previous information, now claims that the Israeli propaganda trip feedback session due to take place later tonight: “is a closed door private report back”.

The invite for tonight’s feedback session was widely circulated to the general public. In addition, several of the Israeli propaganda trip participants encouraged BDS South Africa to attend tonight’s feedback session.

It is bizarre that now, after BDS South Africa had RSVP-ed and indicated that we will be attending, SAIF has decided to block BDS South Africa and other human rights activists from attending the dialogue and feedback session.

This suppression of dialogue, transparency, inclusivity and freedom of expression exposes SAIF and the larger Israeli lobby which includes the SA Jewish Board of Deputies and SA Zionist Federation in their attempts to close down spaces of conversation, dialogue and debate. This anti-dialogue approach also exposes the Israeli lobby’s general paranoia of open debate.

Some of the participants of the recent Israeli propaganda trip, who have, subsequent to the trip expressed regret, have indicated to BDS South Africa that they will also not attend tonight’s SAIF event.

ISSUED BY KWARA KEKANA ON BEHALF OF BDS SOUTH AFRICA

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