"I promised [the late Palestinian Liberation Organisation leader] Yasser Arafat three weeks before he died that we would mobilise the working class of the world to deal with this," he told the 6th national congress of the SA Democratic Teachers‘ Union (Sadtu), of which he is also president.

He called for a resolution that the international working class movement push for sanctions against Israel.

The ambassadors of Palestine and Libya were guests to the congress, held at Midrand, north of Johannesburg.

"We must call on our own government to cease diplomatic relations with apartheid Israel, and thus follow what Venezuela has already done."

He also said Israel‘s diamond industry dealt in more stones from South Africa than anywhere else.

"We should call them blood diamonds unless we stop working with apartheid Israel."

Closer to home, Madisha called on teachers to contribute to the trust fund set up for axed deputy president Jacob Zuma‘s legal fees.

"Supporting Zuma in this case is upholding the principles of our democracy," he said.

Sapa

http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/zones/sundaytimesNEW/newsst/newsst1156997988.aspx

Posted on 01-09-2006