Statement on the Incursions into Palestinian Refugee Camps and Towns and the Use of Excessive Military Force

The South African Government is shocked and saddened by the unrelenting military onslaught by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) on the Palestinian refugee camps over the last few days and as well as a series of Palestinian terrorist attacks perpetrated over the weekend which left 13 Israelis dead, including an infant, and 80 others wounded.

These events run contrary to the reports that Prime Minister Sharon has dropped his demand for seven days of complete calm before talks with the Palestinians can begin again. It is further heartening that the US administration is returning General Anthony Zinni to the region - a move called for by President Arafat on 3rd March. As Colin Powell recently
stated "If you declare war on the Palestinians and think that you can solve the problem by seeing how many Palestinians can be killed - I don't know if that leads us anywhere".

However, the use of tanks and helicopter gunships to fire on the refugee camp of Jebaliya this morning leaving another 17 Palestinians dead and 80 wounded compounds the recent invasions and occupation of a number of other refugee camps. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres stated that aerial bombardments "do us more harm than good". The round up and detention of well over 1,000 Palestinian men, as well as the destruction of homes within the camps is a form of collective punishment which defies
standards the world expects from a democratic society.

Destroying and degrading the institutions of the PNA and their elected leader, President Arafat, will have no other consequence than to weaken the very leadership that Israel seeks to have work towards a peaceful negotiated settlement. As we have already seen so often before this will further inflame the Palestinian population to seek militant redress and prolong the cycle of violence in the region.

The South African Government again stresses that there can be no military solution to the conflict. As long as the Palestinians are under bombardment and siege and Israel's civilian population is subject to acts of terrorism, Israel's security cannot be assured and Palestinian statehood further
delayed. The South African Government believes that the time has come for Israelis and Palestinians to demonstrate bravery, steadfastness and resilience by reaching out to their neighbours to enter into negotiations in good faith.

In the current climate South Africa is moved to re-commit itself to strengthening and mutually empowering the peace camps in both societies in order to build a shared vision for peace in the spirit of the Presidential Peace Retreat hosted by President Mbeki in January.

The time to act for peace is now!

For further information contact Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

12th March 2002