PRESS ALERT: BDS SA to attend Israel holiday propaganda trip feedback session
29 July 2015
The South Africa Israel Forum (SAIF) is hosting a feedback session tomorrow evening (30th July at 6pm) in Johannesburg (Investec Building, 100 Grayston Drive, Sandown) with participants of the recent and controversial propaganda holiday trip to Israel (see attached poster).
The human rights and Palestine solidarity organisation BDS South Africa, has been encouraged by several of the participants to attend the feedback session. We have decided to attend, listen and participate in tomorrow's dialogue, debate and discussion.
Following the recent Israeli holiday propaganda trip there has been wide-spread public outcry by various organizations slamming the trip including SASCO, YCL etc. Subsequently, several of the participants had requested one-on-one meetings with BDS South Africa where they expressed regret, concern and discomfort regarding their participation and association with pro-Israeli entities such as SAIF and the problematic nature of the propaganda trips.
We have received veiled threats from the pro-Israeli lobby not to attend, however, we have followed
all due process by submmiting relevant RSVP forms as per the invitation. We live in a democracy and will not bow to intimidation and threats that may arise from pro-Israeli organisations for us not to attend tomorrow’s open feedback session, this is an issue of principal. We trust that the SA Israel Forum and its funders including business tycoon Jonathan Beare who its reported contributed to the recent trip, will respect this basic principal.
ISSUED BY KWARA KEKANA ON BEHALF OF BDS SOUTH AFRICA
BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT AND SANCTIONS AGAINST ISRAEL in SOUTH AFRICA (BDS SOUTH AFRICA)
10th Floor | Braamfontein Centre | 23 Jorissen Street | Braamfontein | Johannesburg
PO Box 2318 | Houghton | 2041 | Johannesburg
T: +27 (0) 11 403 2097 | M: +27 (0) 74 054 3826 | F: +27 (0) 86 650 4836
W: www.bdssouthafrica.com | E: kkekana@bdssouthafrica.com
BDS South Africa is a registered Non-Profit Organization. NPO NUMBER: 084 306 NPO
BDS South Africa is a registered Public Benefit Organisation with Section 18A status. PBO NUMBER: 930 037 446
