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Israel/Lebanon/Palestine: Escalating Cross Border Confrontation Pretoria
- The South African Government is greatly concerned at the increasing cross-border
violence involving Israel, the Gaza Strip and now also Lebanon. The escalating
Israeli military strikes into Gaza after the capture of an Israeli soldier has
now reportedly been followed by rocket attacks into Israel from Lebanon as well
as Israeli military incursions and air attacks into Lebanon, resulting in the
capture of two other Israeli soldiers and the death of seven Israeli soldiers. The
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Aziz Pahad, has stated that the South African
government views these escalating attacks in a very serious light. He commented,
"The attacks are clearly raising tensions in the region to new dangerous
heights at a time when both sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be
looking at ways to end the negotiation deadlock and move the peace process forward.
In addition, the assaults have led to increasing hardships for the Palestinian
people in Gaza and unacceptable civilian casualties, including, reportedly, the
deaths of nine members of the same family." The use of air-strikes in heavily
populated areas to carry out extra-judicial killings is against international
humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions. Deputy Minister Pahad added
that the South African government strongly condemned the reported Israeli air
strike on Beirut International Airport, which put civilian aircraft using the
airport at risk and was thus clearly in contravention of international civil aviation
safety requirements. The Deputy Minister said, "the Government calls on the
Israeli Government to refrain from this type of action and, as a major military
power in the region, to act with restraint to avoid further civilian casualties
and the destruction of vital infrastructure." The extension of the
principle of collective punishment from the Palestinian Occupied Territory to
Lebanon is a very serious development. Deputy Minister Pahad called on the Palestinians
and Hezbollah to release the Israeli prisoners and called for an end to the launching
of rockets. Failure to do so is resulting in Israeli military offensive causing
massive death and destruction. At the same time, Deputy Minister Pahad called
on all parties involved in the conflict to stop all provocative acts which will
further increase tensions in the region and to look at ways to de-escalate the
current crisis, with a view to protecting the lives of all civilians and the eventual
resumption of negotiations. He reiterated that, "the South African
government remains ready to assist all parties in the current confrontation to
promote dialogue in order to bring about lasting peace in the region." The
isolation and sanctions against the Hamas led government is not conducive to finding
a political solution. He also called on the international community to act
urgently and decisively to prevent a catastrophe and a possible regional war.
Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853 Department of Foreign
Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001 13 July 2006
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