Nelson Mandela’s support for Palestinians endures with South Africa’s genocide case against Israel
By GERALD IMRAY
Associated Press
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — South Africa’s long-held support for the Palestinian people can be traced back to the time of Nelson Mandela and Yasser Arafat. The two leaders believed that the struggle for freedom by Blacks in apartheid South Africa and Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank were the same. That solidarity has survived for more than 30 years. It may explain why South Africa took the unusual step of opening a case with the United Nations’ top court accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians in the war in Gaza. South Africa is not a diplomatic heavyweight but its ruling African National Congress party, which Mandela once led, remains a strong Palestinian ally and a fierce critic of Israel.