delegation to Palestine 1-6 May 2007
7 May 2007
South African Minister for Intelligence Mr Ronnie Kasrils visited the
Palestinian territories from 1 May to 6 May 2007, including the Gaza Strip and
the West Bank. Minister Kasrils led a delegation that represented both the
Government of South Africa and the ruling party, the African National Congress
(ANC), and included Mr Dumisani Sithole, Member of South Africa's Parliament
(MP) and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign
Affairs; Dr Ted Pekane, South African Representative to the Palestinian
National Authority; Ms M Ntenteni of the ANC Women's League as well as senior
officials.
Minister Kasrils was the guest speaker during South Africa's Freedom Day
celebrations which were held in Gaza and Ramallah. During the visit the
delegation met with President Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh,
Palestinian Authority Ministers and officials, Palestinian Legislative Council
(PLC) members, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), political party
representatives and think tanks. The Minister delivered a lecture, which was
well received, at the Birzeit University on lessons of the South African
struggle and comparisons with apartheid. He visited the Wall in Bethlehem with
Dr Mustafa Barghouthi, Minister of Communication, in solidarity with the people
of the historic city which is now totally enclosed by the Wall except for two
gated entrances.
The Minister laid a wreath on behalf of the South African Government and the
people of South Africa, at the memorial site of the late President Yasser
Arafat in the Muqata (Presidential Quarters), Ramallah.
Minister Kasrils conveyed to the Palestinian National Authority and the
people of Palestine the firm solidarity and support of the South African
Government and people for the just cause of the Palestinian people. During his
meetings he extended his congratulations to the Palestinians for having formed
the Palestinian National Unity Government; called upon the international
community to work with the National Unity Government representing the voices of
97% of the Palestinian electorate; and said that South Africa looked forward to
receiving a delegation of the Palestinian National Unity Government lead by its
Prime Minister, to South Africa. This invitation was strongly welcomed and
endorsed by President Mahmmoud Abbas. Minister Kasrils emphasised the
importance of unity in action of the Palestinian people in order to achieve its
strategic goal of a free and sovereign Palestinian state on the 1967 borders.
The Minister pointed out that those who myopically object to such invitations
merely show that they have learnt nothing from South Africa's transition. Such
logic as they espouse would not have allowed PW Botha to have met with the
imprisoned Mandela nor his release by FW De Klerk as a partner in
negotiations.
Minister Kasrils called upon Israel to immediately release without any
conditions all the Palestinian customs revenues it unlawfully withholds; to end
its occupation, land annexations and in keeping with the ruling of the
International Court of Justice remove the Apartheid Wall; remove all Israeli
settlements in the Occupied Territories; to stop its continued aggression
against the Palestinian people; and to start a process of negotiations, in good
faith, with the Palestinian representatives in order to arrive at a peaceful
and just outcome of the conflict in the interest of peace and security for both
the Palestinian and the Israeli people.
He also called upon Israel to release all forty-one PLC members arrested by
Israel and the eleven thousand Palestinian prisoners, including women and
children, who remain in Israeli prisons.
The Minister called upon the international community to end the financial
siege and blockade imposed upon the Palestinian people and to put pressure on
the Israeli Government to end its cruel forty-year long occupation of the
Palestinian Territories in contravention of international law and United
Nations (UN) Resolutions.
Minister Kasrils reiterated the commitment of the South African Government
towards the achievement, through peaceful negotiations, of a two-state solution
based on a viable Palestinian state on the 1967 borders and in accordance with
the relevant UN Resolutions.
Enquiries:
Lorna Daniels
Cell: 082 418 3389
E-mail: lornad@mweb.co.za
Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
7 May 2007
Source: SAPA
