South Africa Summons Israeli Ambassador to Union Buildings, 29 December 2008

Pretoria – South African Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Fatima Hajaig, today, Monday 29 December 2009, summoned the Israeli Ambassador, Mr Dov Segev-Steinberg, to a meeting at the Union Buildings in order to express the grave concern of the SA Government at the brutal assault by Israeli military forces on the Palestinian people in Gaza.  She stressed that what is going on is a gross violation of the rights of the people of Gaza.

The Deputy Minister emphasised to the Ambassador that the large-scale loss of life and injuries to the inhabitants of Gaza, including women and children, as well as the destruction of physical infrastructure in the territory, such as mosques, schools and universities, is totally unacceptable and she called upon Israel to stop this aggression immediately.

 The Deputy Minister informed Ambassador Segev-Steinberg that the SA Government found the continued of siege of Gaza unacceptable as it does not allow humanitarian relief supplies such as medicines, food, water and medical supplies to reach the desperate people of Gaza.

The SA Government called on the Israeli government to stop the military onslaught in Gaza and to immediately and unconditionally withdraw its forces currently amassing on the border.

 The Deputy Minister stated that no amount of bloodshed or destruction of infrastructure will bring peace to either the people of Israel or the people of Palestine.

 The SA Government called on all parties involved in the conflict to return to negotiations without preconditions in order to bring about a lasting solution as outlined in the Oslo Accords, Camp David negotiations and Annapolis Peace Conference.

 For more information contact: Nomfanelo Kota, 082 459 3787

Issued By:Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria 

29 December 2008