Anglican Church calls for SA sports and education bodies to cut ties with Israel, wants coal exports halted
A mass demonstration was held in Cape Town on Saturday in support of Palestine. The Anglican Church has called on the government and other organisations to cut ties with Israeli institutions.
Image: Ian Landsberg / Independent Newspapers
The Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA) has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, for South Africa sports and education institutions to sever ties with Israel and for coal exports to the Middle Eastern country to be banned.
These were among the resolutions adopted by the church. The church representatives from South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and St Helena, held the annual meeting of the church's Standing Committee on Friday.
The church said that they “cannot remain neutral in the face of such profound human suffering.”
“We reaffirm our call for: an immediate and permanent ceasefire, unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid, accountability for violations of international law, the release of all hostages and political prisoners, and renewed commitment to peace-building rooted in justice, dignity, and truth.”
In a statement adopted by the church's Synod of Bishops, the bishops said: “We commend those governments which have in recent days given formal recognition to Palestine as an independent state, in the face of strong protests from Israel, and urge other governments to follow their example.”
At their annual meeting, they noted that the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza is nearing 60,000 deaths through war, starvation and lack of access to medical resources.
“Genocidal actions of the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) in preventing the delivery of food, water and medicines to the people of Gaza” and they also called out the “intensifying attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians and the illegal expansion of settlements”.
It called on all sports bodies, schools and universities in South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini and Namibia to cut all ties with Israeli institutions.
They also raised frustration with the continued export of coal to the Israeli state by South-African based companies, saying it fuels the energy grid, illegal settlements and “genocidal actions of the IDF”.
It said South Africa should follow Colombia’s example in banning all coal exports to the Israeli state.
They urged support for the Global Sumud Flotilla as a non-violent attempt to break the siege on Gaza for humanitarian aid and encourage similar initiatives.
The Synod of Bishops added: "We acknowledge the courageous commitment of the churches in Palestine to maintaining their ministry in the face of attack and obstruction by Israel. We recognise with humility the Church’s past silence and complicity in the plight of the people of Palestine, and we recommit ourselves to solidarity with the oppressed, to prophetic witness against apartheid and militarisation, and to deep prayer for peace.
“We urge our members to undertake symbolic acts in support of the rights of the people of Palestine, such as the ringing of church bells at midday on Fridays."