URGENT action must be taken against “apartheid” Israel, South African communists said today, accusing Tel Aviv of violating international law with “absolute impunity.”

The South African Communist Party (SACP) welcomed the government decision to “immediately and unconditionally downgrade the South African embassy in Israel to a liaison office,” which was made last week after the shooting of unarmed Palestinian protesters at the Great Return March.

However, it expressed concern over delays and urged the ruling ANC to implement the decision with immediate effect.

The SACP said: “The regime appears to believe that no matter what its leaders and repressive machinery do, they will face no consequences for their atrocities. 

“The apartheid regime of Israel is protected by imperial powers, and United States in the main. However, there is another power, the power of progressive governments and peace-loving people across the world that can hold Israel accountable.”

The SACP released today’s statement after Israeli snipers shot and killed more than 30 Palestinians and injured over 1,500 since a week last Friday. 

The Palestinian demonstrations began on March 30 to commemorate the 42nd anniversary of Land Day when six unarmed Palestinian citizens of Israel were killed in 1976 by Israeli forces during protests against the expropriation of Palestinian land by the government.

During the Great Return March demonstrators marched by an illegal border fence when Israeli snipers opened fire, killing 17 and injuring around 1,400.

Israel and South Africa have been at loggerheads over controversial Israeli plans to deport African migrants, offering them money and a plane ticket to leave and threatening them with jail if they remained in the country after March 2018.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled a UN-negotiated agreement after a mere six hours last week which would have given the migrants temporary status in the country.

He has since vowed to use "all options ... to remove the infiltrators."

The SACP pledged to join civil society groups and other actions in solidarity with Palestine.

“South Africa’s position should be clear on the streets, in our political resolutions and in government. The time for statements is over and the time for action is well overdue,” its statement concluded.