President Jacob Zuma: State luncheon in honour of President Mahmoud Abbas

Remarks by President Jacob Zuma at the state luncheon in honour of President Mahmoud Abbas of The State of Palestine on the State Visit to South Africa

Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas, of the State of Palestine and your distinguished delegation,
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa,
Honourable Ministers, Premiers and Deputy Ministers,
The Executive Mayor of Tshwane Metropolitan Council,
The Secretary-General, Treasurer-General and Deputy Secretary-General of the ANC,
The Governor of the South African Reserve Bank,
Esteemed representatives of Chapter 9 institutions, business, labour, the religious sector and various state institutions,
Ambassadors and Presidential Special Envoys to Palestine and the Middle East,
Ladies and Gentleman,

Good day to you all.

Your Excellency President Abbas, let me express, on behalf of the Government and people of South Africa, how happy we are to host you in our country. This is truly a historic occasion for our country.

Your visit is an affirmation of the strong bonds of friendship that our peoples share, a friendship and solidarity that have stood the test of time. It is no coincidence that the State of Palestine and the Republic of South Africa have established the close bond of friendship and trust. The struggles and the resilience of the Palestinian people were a source of strength to the South African people during the struggle for liberation. When the Apartheid regime invaded neighbouring states and committed acts of wanton killing and destruction, we drew strength from the heroic manner in which Palestinians stood up to the Zionist invasion of Beirut in 1982. We knew that just as Palestinians were not destroyed by the Israeli might, we too could withstand the might of the Apartheid army.

Today we meet in a free and democratic South Africa, a free South Africa that owes its existence to the support of the international community, including the Palestinian people. When we gained our freedom, we did not forget Palestine. It is for this reason that our President Nelson Mandela declared that 'our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians'. Just like that of Nelson Mandela, the name of Yasser Arafat remains forever glued to our people's lips. We also claim him as one of our heroes.

Mr President, in keeping with the undertaking made by President Mandela, South Africa will never rest until Palestinians achieve full statehood. We will be with you every step of the way no matter what it takes. You have outlined the type of support you expect from us and we will honour our promise to you.

Mr President, this has been an extremely difficult year for the people of Palestine and the peace loving people of the world. We are gathered here today after a devastating fifty-day-war by the Israeli forces against the people of Palestine. This is a war that left more than two thousand Palestinians dead, and in some instances, whole families were wiped out. Homes and vital infrastructure were destroyed and families rendered homeless.

Mr President, your people have experienced this aggression before and we are confident that with the united support of the world community, which was clearly demonstrated at the Cairo Donors' Conference last month, you will emerge stronger from the ruins of Gaza.

When the Fifty-Day War escalated, I appointed former Minister, Dr Zola Skweyiya, and former Deputy Minister, Dr Aziz Pahad, as my Special Envoys to Palestine-Israeli conflict and Peace Process to convey South Africa's concern over the escalating violence.

These veterans of our liberation struggle will continue to engage with all relevant stakeholders to the conflict, in an attempt to finding a lasting and genuine solution to the Palestine-Israeli conflict.

Mr President, the struggle for full Palestinian statehood remains foremost in our minds. South Africa stands firmly with the international community in demanding a two-state solution where the states of Palestine and Israel will co-exist peacefully, side by side, within internationally-recognised borders, based on the lines of June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

We are confident that the people of Palestine will prevail and that the dream of our inspirational hero, President Arafat of a free and independent Palestine, will become a reality.

We know that to the Palestinian people, a free South Africa is a liberated zone in their unstoppable march to full independence.

Welcome to this liberated zone, Mr President!

I thank you.

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