The Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation has adopted a report on its study tour of and fact-finding mission to the West Bank and Israel.
In principle, the committee has adopted the basic tenets of the proposed resolution. Members of committee requested time to consult with various leaders of political parties with the view to enhance proposed resolutions that have been submitted.
The key tenets of the proposed resolution are:
- The aspirations of the Palestinians people cannot be denied any longer, the current round of negotiations must as an outcome resolve the fundamental grievance and lay the sole foundation of peace in the Middle East
- The visit re-affirmed the committee’s view that the settlement construction of the Palestinian territory is illegal and is a violation of international law and poses a real threat to the negotiations.
- The latest decision of the Israeli government to continue with settlement construction is counter-productive as it creates new facts on the ground and undermines the creation and viability of a future Palestinian state.
Therefore the committee resolved:
- To intensify efforts of supporting a just, peaceful and lasting solution including the strengthening of a sovereign, independent Palestinian state, which will help to bring peace between Palestinians and Israelis and an end to the conflict in to the region
- To become a leading part of the worldwide movement, which includes South Africa, civil society, supporting the struggle and campaigns led by the Palestinian people and to this end bring together all sections of the South African population supporting the Palestinian cause
- To continue to support the efforts by the SA government to encourage an inclusive peaceful process of a negotiated settlement between the concerned parties.
- To lead the efforts to strengthen and coordinate Inter-Parliamentary Solidarity efforts, and
- To support all efforts to engage with all parties in Israel and Palestine to find a just, lasting and peaceful resolution towards the settlement of the Palestinian question and peace in the Middle East.
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Yoliswa Landu (Ms), Parliamentary Communication Services
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