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Statement Following the Israeli Air
Strike on Gaza City
The South African Government is deeply saddened by
the loss of civilian life, including children, who were
killed in the Israeli air strike on Gaza City on Monday
22nd July 2002.
The Government would like to re-state its strongest
possible condemnation of all military attacks, extra-judicial
killings and suicide bombings that are leaving a horrifically
high civilian death toll in their wake. All of these
senseless acts of violence fuel extremists to retaliate,
resulting in the killing and maiming of more Palestinian
and Israeli civilians.
"We call on the Israeli Government and the Palestinian
people to move beyond this counterproductive cycle of
retribution and revenge," the Deputy Minister of
Foreign Affairs said yesterday. The Deputy Minister
continued: "We were heartened by the meetings that
had taken place last weekend between Israeli and Palestinian
Ministers.
These seemed to indicate the beginnings of dialogue
between the parties around concrete measures to ease
the looming humanitarian crisis of the Palestinian people
and to present achievable ways to de-escalate the security
situation. It is most distressing to note that every
time there is positive movement in this regard, a severe
act of violence gives the veto to the extremists and
not the majority of Israelis and Palestinians who are
desirous of peace."
The South African Government appeals for both sides
to continue to keep open these channels of communication
and to rise above those who wish to derail attempts
to reach a peaceful, negotiated and just solution.
The constructive outcome of the recent 'Quartet' meeting
and the following meeting of the 'Quartet' plus Saudi
Arabia, Egypt and Jordan was also a positive indication
that progress can be made around an international consensus
to reach a two States solution; end occupation, violence
and terrorism; halt settlement construction and expansion;
reform the Palestinian Authority and hold elections;
and negotiate a permanent settlement within a time-frame
of no more than three years.
The South African Government welcomes the reform process
initiated by the Palestinian National Authority (PNA),
the '100 Days Plan of the Palestinian Government', which
follows on from the signing into law of the Basic Law
(separation of powers) with a timetable for its implementation
including streamlining the security services; the restructuring
of Finance and other ministries; submitting the 2003
Budget Law; and providing a timetable for presidential
and legislative elections.
However, the reoccupation and other repressive measures
of collective punishment by Israel make it almost impossible
for the PNA to adequately implement their 100 Day Plan,
particularly the holding of elections, whilst Palestinian
freedom of movement is curtailed through curfews and
new restrictive measures and the Palestinian population
faces a humanitarian disaster.
"We believe that the 100 Day Plan reflects the
genuine desire of the Palestinian people to improve
their own legislative, judicial and administrative apparatus.
Let us, the international community, support these efforts
of President Arafat and the PNA and assist them to end
the impediments to its effective implementation. Let
us particularly heed the words last week of the United
Nations Secretary General when he stated that the economic
crisis that has afflicted the Palestinians has now deteriorated
into "a humanitarian crisis" and let us fully
support his plans to prioritise efforts to secure humanitarian
assistance for the Palestinians from the international
community."
On numerous occasions in the past the South African
Government has called on the international community
to assist President Arafat and the PNA to control and
defeat the forces of terror and extremism. "We
re-iterate that call today," Deputy Minister Pahad
stated.
For more information contact Ronnie Mamoepa on 082
990 4853.
Issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
24 July 2002
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