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Statement Following the Spate of Suicide
Bombings Aimed at Derailing Discussions Between Israel
and the Palestinians
The South African Government condemns in the strongest
possible terms the latest spate of suicide bomb attacks
seeking to derail a renewed process aimed at bringing
peace to the Middle East. The Deputy Minister has also
called on the Israeli Government to cease the implementation
of complete closures and the excessive use of force
by the IDF, which only serve to fuel the cycle of violence.
The loss of innocent civilian lives is always regretted,
as the use of force can invariably only exacerbate tensions
in an already fragile coexistence between Israelis and
Palestinians.
Deputy Minister Pahad welcomed the meeting between
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Prime Minister Mahmoud
Abbas (Abu Mazen), and once again called on both parties
to remain seized with the Road Map, and not allow elements
opposed to peace to hold the process hostage. "Extremist
elements must never be given the power to hold hostage
a process aimed at finding a peaceful resolution to
a conflict. These bombings, which coincide with discussions
on the Road Map, are clearly aimed at derailing the
process," the Deputy Minister said.
He called on the lifting of the restrictions on the
movements of Chairman Arafat, and further said that
"the Israeli Cabinet decision that anybody who
meets with Arafat will be shunned by the Israeli Government
", is counter-productive, and will only further
isolate the Israeli Government.
The South African Government pledges its full support
to the speedy implementation of the Road Map and calls
upon the leadership of Israel and the Palestinians to
do likewise.
To this end, "it is vital that both the Israelis
and the Palestinians commit themselves to implementing
the Road Map speedily and without preconditions,"
Pahad said. He stressed that without commitment from
both sides to comply with the obligations as outlined
in the Road Map, the peace so sorely desired by all
Israelis and Palestinians will remain elusive.
For more information contact Mr. Ronnie Mamoepa on
082 990 4853
Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
P/Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
19 May 2003
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