Making a Sow’s Ear from Palestinian Protest

Camalita Naicker, The Con

The recent decision by the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) to place a pig’s head in what was assumed to be the kosher section of Woolworths, and then, in fact, turned out to be the halal section, could be written off as a mere “fail of the week.”

But it is indicative of a far more serious and insidious politics being cultivated by Boycott. Divestment. Sanctions-South Africa (BDS-SA) who have proved unable and unwilling to run a disciplined and ethical campaign in solidarity with Palestinians.

OPEN LETTER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC

Dear colleagues from the Music Department,

We, the Rhodes University Palestinian Solidarity Forum (RUPSF), note with alarm that the Rhodes University Music Department has invited a musician, described as a “native of Israel”, to perform during the global campaign, Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW). We also note that Dr Yossi Reshef’s performances in South Africa are made possible with “generous support from the Israeli Embassy”. His performance can thus only be viewed as being officially sanctioned by the Israeli government, and that he is coming to perform as a cultural representative of that government.