A Pahad on escalating cross-border violence involving Israel, Lebanon
and Palestine

13 July 2006

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.

Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
13 July 2006
Source: SAPA