South African Advertising Standards Authority okays reference to Israel as 'apartheid state'

The South African Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that an advertisement, which refers to Israel as an 'apartheid state' like apartheid South Africa, is not 'untrue,' is not 'unsupported by the evidence,' and does not 'contain a lie that amounts to propaganda.'

This afternoon, in a bold ruling defending the right to freedom of expression and political speech, the South African media watchdog, theAdvertising Standards Authority (ASA), unequivocally dismissed all complaints relating to a radio advert on 5fm that called for the boycott of Israel and compared Israel to Apartheid South Africa.

In February this year, during the South African tour of the international dance band, Faithless, a radio message featuring Dave Randall (lead guitarist of Faithless) was broadcast on the popular SABC radio station, 5fm. The advert was in support of a local group, the South African Artists Against Apartheid collective. In the advert Randall says:

“Hi, I’m Dave Randall from Faithless. Twenty years ago I would not have played in apartheid South Africa; today I refuse to play in Israel. Be on the right side of history. Don’t entertain apartheid. Join the international boycott of Israel. I support southafricanartistsagainstapartheid.com.”

In an official complaint to the ASA, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) attacked the radio advert and alleged that the view expressed that Israel is an Apartheid State is “untrue, not supported by any evidence… and contains a lie which amounts to false propaganda”.

The SAJBD sought an order requesting the SABC to apologise for broadcasting the radio advert.

Today the ASA dismissed each and every complaint made by the SAJBD against the advert and instead ruled in favor of the submissions made by SA Artists Against Apartheid, who were represented by Webber Wentzel Attorneys. The ASA also refused to provide any sanctions in favor of the SAJBD.

Note that the sign on the apartheid beach at the top of this post is from Durban, South Africa, and not from Tel Aviv. We don't have beaches like that. And this is what our hospitals look like:

Needless to say, the pro-'Palestinian' groups are pleased.

South African Palestine solidarity and human rights groups have celebrated the ASA ruling claiming it as a "legal victory" for the boycott of Israel movement. Fatima Vally from the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Working Group said in a press release:

"This is the second major boycott of Israel decision coming from South Africa in less than six months. The first being the historic decision by the University of Johannesburg to sever its Israeli ties. The boycott of Israel campaign is the new Anti-Apartheid Movement, and its growing rapidly."

What could go wrong?