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Statement on the Likud Party Vote Against
a Palestinian State
The vote taken by the Israeli Likud Party, on 13th
May, against the establishment of a Palestinian State,
is gravely worrying. The South African Government is
concerned that the Palestinian right to sovereign statehood
is being used to further internal Israeli political
aspirations without due regard to the impact of such
decisions on the Palestinian people. The South African
Government concurs with the statement by EU foreign
policy chief Xavier Solana: "It is very sad when
the internal politics of a political party can interfere
in the search for peace".
South Africa, along with the NAM, the EU, the US and
the UN have all expressed their belief that the establishment
of a Palestinian State is the key to resolving the Middle
East conflict. Recent UNSC resolutions 1397, 1402 and
1403 re-affirm this vision, building on previous UNSC
resolutions 242 and 338.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aziz Pahad commented:
"At a time when both Israel and the Palestinians
need to be building confidence in their serious desire
to find a just, equitable and comprehensive settlement
to the conflict, the nature of the debate and vote undertaken
by the Likud Party are most unhelpful. To ordinary Palestinians
such declarations of intent will most likely be seen
as an indication that Israel is not prepared, now or
in the future, to recognise their inalienable rights
to statehood."
The Deputy Minister further commented: "Such resolutions
will be seen by many as a declaration of war. We call
on the Israeli people to express their rejection of
this dangerous resolution. In this respect we have taken
note of the fact that more than 50,000 Israelis demonstrated
their commitment to peace, in central Tel Aviv on 11th
May, under the slogans: ‘Leave the territories
for the sake of Israel’ and ‘Two states for
two people’". Mr Pahad went on to say: "South
Africa was heartened by the Israeli people’s expression
of their dearly held wish for an end to fear and conflict
through the recognition that occupation must end and
that peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians
can only be achieved through mutual co-existence in
two sovereign states."
Issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
14th May 2002
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