Pandor On ‘rules-based Order’ And Palestine

South Africa has long expressed solidarity with the people of Palestine, seeing their struggle as similar to the one against apartheid.

The recent violence in the region has brought renewed focus on the issue of Palestine’s right to sovereignty, as well as on the question of adherence to international law.

Around a year ago, South Africa’s foreign minister weighed in on these issues in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Back then, there were calls to reform the UN Security Council to get around Russia’s veto - that is, to change the so-called ‘rules-based order.’

But as Naledi Pandor pointed out, why should this happen in response to one people (Ukrainians) defending their sovereignty and not another (Palestinians)?

Watch her make the case here that appeals to the ‘international order’ are just a tool for the West to achieve its aims - one that’s conveniently left in the tool box when others’ need of it goes against its interests.