CAPETOWN, Monday, November 26, 2018 (WAFA) - Several South African pro-Palestine solidarity groups are calling for the withdrawal of the participation of Israeli academics at a conference to be held at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa from 5 to 9 December, the Afro-Palestine Newswire Service reported.

Entitled "Recognition, Reparation, Reconciliation: The Light and Shadow of Historical Trauma", the aim of the conference is to deepen understanding of trans-generational trauma, and develop strategies to deal with the repercussions of genocide, colonial oppression, and mass violence.

The conference committee is chaired by award-winning author and scholar, Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, and the 4-day gathering features several prominent academics and activists, including Achille Mbembe, Homi Bhaba, Albie Sachs, Zackie Achmat and Lindiwe Hani. The closing ceremony will celebrate 20 years of Archbishop Desmond Tutu and South Africa‘s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

"We are unequivocal in our support for the conference, and this is not an appeal to boycott the conference as a whole," Afro-Palestine Newswire Service quoted Roshan Dadoo, from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), as saying.

"However, the participation of Israeli academics at a conference of such moral and intellectual significance is unacceptable, given the role that Israeli academic institutions play in planning, executing, justifying and whitewashing the Israeli state‘s abuse of Palestinian human rights, numerous violations of international law - and even war crimes," explained Dadoo.

In a statement, the groups are calling on the conference organizers, speakers, participants and sponsors to support the rationale of the Palestinian call for the academic and cultural boycott of Israel.

"The rationale for the call of the cultural and academic boycott of Israel is for Israel to extend full human and civil rights to all citizens of Israel, to end the occupation and enable the Palestinian right to return. Notably, all these demands are consistent with international humanitarian law," says Dadoo.

T.R.