Tutu: Israel's humiliation of Palestinians 'familiar to black South Africans'

As annual Israel Apartheid Week opens in South Africa, the former archbishop compares Israel's treatment of Palestinians to apartheid and reiterates endorsement of BDS.


By Haaretz | Mar. 10, 2014 | 10:38 AM |

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said Sunday that Israel's treatment of Palestinians reminds him of South African apartheid, and reiterated his support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.

"I have witnessed the systemic humiliation of Palestinian men, women and children by members of the Israeli security forces," he said in a statement. "Their humiliation is familiar to all black South Africans who were corralled and harassed and insulted and assaulted by the security forces of the apartheid government."

The former Anglican archbishop of Cape Town made the statement as the 10th annual Israel Apartheid Week opened Sunday in South Africa. The initiative, part of the international boycott, divestment and sanctions movement’s campaign against Israel, is being marked in 87 cities this year. Tutu visited Israel in 1989.

International pressure similar to the BDS movement led to the end of apartheid in South Africa, the statement said.

in full: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.578872