The Barbados-based Caribbean Against Apartheid in Palestine (CAAP) association has condemned as unprovoked, the recent flare-up in confrontations in the vicinity of one of the holiest places of prayer for muslims, the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.
Co-organisers of the association, Lalu Hanuman and Suleiman Bulbulia, also told a media conference on Monday that Barbados should join other Caribbean countries and the United Nations, which have recognised Palestine as a state.
“We are highlighting and are very concerned about the recent escalation of the violence in Jerusalem directed towards the Palestinians by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF),” said Bulbulia, who is treasurer of CAAP.
“We are extremely concerned as well about the actions at the mosque over the last few nights, on the holiest night of the month of Ramadan for Muslims. We condemn the actions by the IDF forces in storming the mosque with worshippers at prayer,” he added.
“We do not consider any of these actions as being provoked by the Palestinians. Rather, on the contrary, it is a continuation of the oppressive politics of the Israeli government towards the Palestinian people,” Bulbulia said.
Hanuman said: “It is a crime against humanity. It is a genocide that has been taking place for many years.”
Bulbulia and Hanuman said actions against the Palestinians in Jerusalem were part of plans by the Israeli government to destroy the Al-Aqsa mosque.
More than 300 people have been reported hurt as Palestinians continue to protest evictions in Jerusalem, which Israel captured following the six-day war of 1967. Several countries have expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions between the Palestinians and Israelis.
Bubulia said that the actions by the IDF were unprovoked.
Western media have reported that rockets have targeted Jerusalem.
Hanuman, who is secretary of the CAAP, said the situation in Palestine was worse than in apartheid South Africa. He noted that Barbados and other Caribbean countries supported a boycott of South Africa under apartheid rule.
Given the Caribbean’s history with slavery, the CAAP secretary repeated a call for Barbados to recognise the state of Palestine. He said the Government was approached on this matter two years ago. (HH)
