Ynet, the online version of Israel's largest newspaper "Yediot Aharonot", gives prominence to the COSATU support for the CUPE Ontario resolution. This is significant because of the strong links between the black labour movement under Apartheid and the Canadian labour movement at the same time as there was multi-faceted cooperation between the State of Israel and South African Apartheid. COSATU support is also significant because of the undisputed expertise of South African labour in identifying an Apartheid-like regime.

Unfortunately, the English Ynet quotes an erroneous version of the COSATU letter, that contains the following sentence: "In fact, I believe that some of the atrocities committed against the Palestinians pale in comparison to those committed by the erstwhile apartheid regime in South Africa,"

Fortunately, the Hebrew Ynet gets it right under the heading:
COSATU text1
"South African organization: Israel is an "apartheid state'") and writes:
COSATU text2
i.e. "some of Israel's actions make the actions of South Africa's apartheid regime appear pale by comparison"

It is important that the message of CUPE Ontario, and of COSATU, is reaching Hebrew readers. I hope that Israeli supporters of Palestinian rights (whether or not they endorse the international BDS campaign) will see fit to send messages of support to CUPE Ontario, if they have not already done so. Solidarity deserves solidarity. CUPE Ontario needs to hear how and why its initiative makes a difference.

The full text of the COSATU letter is below.

Regards,

H.L.

From:
President
Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)

To:
President
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Ontario June 6, 2006

Brother Sid Ryan

On behalf over 1.2 million South African workers organized under the banner of COSATU I
greet you in the name of worker internationalism. It is this solidarity, since the
formation of the very first union and across space and time, often in the face of harsh
repression, that provided vital moral succour and allowed workers to strengthen their
resolve against oppression and exploitation.

In this spirit and with great pride, I congratulate CUPE Ontario for their historic
resolution on May 27th in support of the Palestinian people - those living under
occupation and those millions of Palestinian refugees living in the Diaspora. We fully
support your resolution.

As someone who lived in apartheid South Africa and who has visited Palestine I say with
confidence that Israel is an apartheid state. In fact, I believe that some of the
atrocities committed against the South Africans by the erstwhile apartheid regime in South
Africa pale in comparison to those committed against the Palestinians.

The latest outrage by the apartheid Israeli regime-the construction of the hideous
Apartheid Wall-condemned by the International Court of Justice- extends the occupation of
Palestinian lands, disrupts the already precarious economic, social, health and education
well being of an entire people and entrenches the Bantustanisation of Palestine.

When the governments of the world turn a blind eye to these injustices; when they are
seduced by apartheid  Israel's justification of brutality through the pretext of
security'; when they silence criticism of state terror through the canard of
anti-semitism'-then it is time for the global workers movement to stand firm and
principled against hypocrisy and double standards. We cannot remain silent any longer. It
is time to stand in word and in deed with the peoples of the Middle East and heed their
call to support the struggle against occupation. There will be no peace in this region and
in the world, without justice.

Despite the action of some Western governments and big business, workers and democrats of
the world including the citizens of Canada, heeded our call when we struggled against
apartheid. Boycotts, disinvestments and sanctions against the apartheid regime in South
Africa hastened our march to democracy. Why should it be different for Palestinians? In
the face of an intransigent, arrogant, racist and brutal Israeli state, this strategy of
isolation-particularly since the vast majority of Palestinians support it-should be
applied to Israel as well. It is a peaceful option.

South African workers will never forget the support given by the Israeli state to the
apartheid South African regime. In the same way we will never forget the thousands of acts
of solidarity of ordinary citizens around the world who sustained our struggle through the
boycott weapon.

COSATU supports the demand that Apartheid Israel must respect and implement all
resolutions passed by the United Nations; that the right of return of Palestinian refugees
must not be compromised; that Israel respects the democratically elected government of
Palestine; and that Palestinian taxes collected by  Israel must be returned to the elected
representatives of Palestine unconditionally.

Those supporting the ideology of Zionism and the pro-Israeli lobby will muster their
substantial resources against you. Despite these pressures, we ask you not to doubt for a
single moment the correctness of your just stand. We salute the courage and vision of CUPE
Ontario's leadership and members in unanimously passing resolution 50. Your unwavering
resolve inspires us, we who lived through decades of apartheid oppression, as it will
undoubtedly inspire and endear you to millions of Palestinian and other freedom loving
people throughout the world.

In Solidarity

Willie Madisha
President
Congress of South African Trade Unions