The Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation will on Wednesday (12 October) be briefed by the Palestinian Representative, the Israeli Ambassador and the Egyptian community in South Africa on the issue of the Palestinian bid for full membership at the United Nations.
This follows a move by the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who formally submitted a request to the United Nations on Friday, 23 September 2011, in an endeavour to seek recognition of Palestine as a full member state.
His call was followed by a counter-proposal by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who said that statehood should only follow a negotiated peace accord.
The Quartet of Middle East peace negotiators called for new direct talks under a strict time-frame. The Quartet comprises the United Nations, United States, European Union, and Russia. The group was established in Madrid in 2002. Also attending the meeting will be the Convener of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) led Coalition for a Free Palestine.
Meeting details:
Time: 9h30
Date: Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Venue: Committee Room E-540 Fifth Floor, National Assembly Wing
Media wishing to attend should RSVP and enquiries:
Temba Gubula
Tel: 021 403 8307
Cell: 078 735 8809
E-mail: tgubula@parliament.gov.za
MPs to be briefed on the Palestinian Statehood Application
