South Africa activist challenges German envoy over 'Israel' support
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South African civil society activist Zackie Achmat stages a protest against Germany’s ambassador to Pretoria, Andreas Peschke, in response to Berlin's support for "Israel".
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A Palestinian father carries his traumatized child as he walks in front of a residential building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City on October 7, 2023. (AFP)
A South African civil society activist protested against Germany’s ambassador to Pretoria due to Berlin’s support for "Israel".
Zackie Achmat criticized Andreas Peschke, who was a panelist at the 6th International Social Justice Conference at Stellenbosch University’s Centre for Social Justice on Thursday.
“Sir, have you no shame? You’re one of the largest arms suppliers to the state of Israel. You are not welcomed in our midst,” Achmat told Peschke, as shown in a TikTok video shared by the Cape Argus news outlet.
Germany's Ambassador to Pretoria, Andreas Peschke, faces protests at Cape Town conference, where activist Zackie Achmat declares, “In support of the Palestinian, Lebanese and Iranian peoples, I can say that you are not welcome among us" pic.twitter.com/Eomgq3vJuc
— Horizon News (@Horizonnews07) October 18, 2024
According to the South African news website IOL, Achmat approached the stage where Peschke was seated and accused Germany of supplying arms to "Israel".
He then urged the audience to support the people of Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, and Iran by leaving the venue with him.
Mr Achmat shouted at my country. I listened.
— Andreas Peschke (@AmbPeschke) October 17, 2024
When I answered, he did not listen.
This is unfortunate. If we don‘t listen to each other, we will not solve a single problem.
Uma singalalelani, ngeke sixazulule izinkinga zethu. https://t.co/VcRTnDBagP
In response, Peschke noted on X, “Mr. Achmat shouted at my country. I listened. When I answered, he did not listen. This is unfortunate. If we don’t listen to each other, we will not solve a single problem.”
Germany to continue supplying arms to 'Israel': Chancellor
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reaffirmed Wednesday his government's commitment to arming the Israeli occupation despite the ongoing war on Gaza, which has killed more than 42,200 Palestinian people and displaced over two million people.
In an address to lawmakers in the German parliament, Scholz squarely blamed Hamas for the war, emphasizing that Germany would continue to "stand in solidarity with Israel." He confirmed that arms deliveries to the occupation would persist to ensure its capacity for "self-defense".
"That is why we have supplied weapons and armaments in the past, that is why we are doing this at the moment, and we will continue such deliveries in the future as well. Israel can always rely on us for this," Scholz stated.
His remarks followed reports from local media that Germany had resumed arms exports to the Israeli occupation after receiving assurances from the Israeli government that German weapons would not be used in what has been described as a genocide.
However, Scholz's decision has faced resistance from within his own ruling coalition, with the Greens Party having previously blocked weapons exports to the Israeli occupation, fearing violations of international law.
The big picture
The South African government openly supports the Palestinian cause and condemns Israeli attacks in Gaza and Lebanon. President Cyril Ramaphosa stated on Thursday that South Africa’s support for the Palestinian cause is “irrevocable".
In late 2023, South Africa filed a case with the International Court of Justice in The Hague, accusing "Israel", which has been bombing Gaza since last October, of failing to uphold its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention. Several countries, including Türkiye, Nicaragua, Palestine, Spain, Mexico, Libya, and Colombia, have joined the case, which began public hearings in January.
In May, the top UN court ordered "Israel" to cease its offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, marking the third time the 15-judge panel issued preliminary orders to mitigate the death toll and alleviate suffering in the blockaded area, where casualties have surpassed 42,400.
