for the closing session of the United Nations African Meeting on the Question
of Palestine, Pretoria
10 May 2007
His Excellency Mr Paul Badji, Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of
the Inalienable Right of the Palestinian People
His Excellency Mr Camilleri, Rapporteur of the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Right of the Palestinian People
Mr Tuliameni Kalomoh, Assistant Secretary for Political Affairs, Representative
of the UNSG
Excellencies
Delegates from abroad and South Africa
"Heed not the blind eye, the echoing ear, not yet the tongue, but bring to
this great debate the test of reason" - Parmenides â Greek philosopher, 5th
century
Over the last two days, delegates at this important conference have tried to
bring reason and truth to the burning issue of Palestinian self-determination.
We have heard moving testimony and convincing arguments. We have re-affirmed
that the Palestinian inalienable right to self-determination and statehood
represents the steadfastness, hopes and dreams of 3,95 million Palestinians
living in the Occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. It represents the challenges
of identity and belonging of the 1,1 million Palestinians living in the State
of Israel. It represents the longing of 2,8 million Palestinians in Jordan, 1,6
million in other Arab states and the 0,56 million in other countries. It
represents the yearning for the normality that only comes from being able to
call your home â home.
To achieve this vision the Palestinian people need solidarity.
South Africa was privileged in July 2004 to co-host with the United Nations
(UN) the UN African Meeting on the Question of Palestine. As we, once again,
yesterday, welcomed delegates to our country for this Conference "African
Solidarity with the Palestinian people for the achievement of its inalienable
rights" we realise that we do so in a world very different from the one in
2004. We are acutely conscious of the threat to regional and international
peace and security because of humanity's continuing failure to resolve the
Palestinian demand for self-determination.
Speakers have reminded us yesterday that for nearly 60 years now the
Palestinian people have been a stateless people and for 40 years, this year,
the Palestinian people have been suffering under the oppressive and belligerent
Israeli military occupation of their land.
Various speakers also noted that the Palestinians are facing a humanitarian
tragedy. Poverty has now spread to 26% of the population, compared to 17% in
2005. Unemployment has reached 30% of the population in the first quarter of
2007 and 70% of Palestinians living in Gaza are now dependent on food aid.
The fact that today we are still discussing the issue of Palestinian
self-determination and the continuing aggression and deprivation is an
indictment against all of us.
Why?
We are faced with a complex situation with several inter-related dimensions,
consisting primarily of security issues, geo-strategic interests; control of
oil resources, policies determined by concepts such as "clash of civilisations"
and "axis of evil", the strategic objective to carve out a "New Middle East"
and a militaristic approach to combat terrorism.
For many in Israel, the United States (US) and some European countries the
Palestinian and Lebanese fronts are part of a war against a unified "axis of
terror and hate".
A neo-con reflected this thinking when he said that "Israel and the West are
dealing with radical, messianic Islam, which extends its arms like an octopus,
creating an axis from Tehran to Gaza by way of Damascus and Beirut. And
that the only fitting response in this is a military one in order to create a
new strategic balance between us and radical Islam".
A logical outcome of such thinking, is an uncritical support and protection
of Israel, which is seen as a powerful ally in the fight against "militant
Islam", and the "axis of evil" and a powerful gendarme to protect "Western
values and interests" in the region.
These powerful forces refuse to accept that the Palestinian struggle for a
viable state is legitimate and is the key issue that needs to be resolved if
there is to be long-term peace and stability in the entire region.
Chairperson
It is unacceptable that 60 years after the founding of Israel and 40 years
after the 1967 war the reality today is that the Palestinians control only 23%
of their original land and even this is being threatened by increasing
settlements, the "Apartheid" Wall and the threat by Israel to disengage
unilaterally. What can we do to assist the Palestinians to achieve their
self-determination? In the end we must be guided by the Palestinians.
As we confront this challenge we are acutely conscious, as you have
discussed, that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has been unable to
find a solution. Israel is the only country in the world that rejects all
Resolutions with impunity and the US has consistently used its veto to prevent
the UNSC from taking any effective action against Israel.
Conference has also discussed the reality that the Road Map to achieve a two
state solution, driven by the Quartet, [UN, European Union, United States of
America, Russia] has not made any significant progress. As you have discussed,
the Quartet is an imposed grouping that is not transparent and is not
accountable to the UN Security Council, the body responsible for regional and
international peace and security.
How do we respond to this reality?
How do we also respond to the reality that since the Oslo Agreement,
powerful forces have systematically sought regime change of the Palestinian
Authority?
This illegal policy intensified after the electoral victory of Hamas in
January 2006. These elections, pronounced by all international observers -
including the South African observers - as free and fair, soon came to haunt
Palestinians, against all reason. The victory of a democratically elected Hamas
Government became another pretext for a renewed offensive against the
Palestinian people and its institutions.
It is ironic that one of the most successful areas of Palestinian reform has
been the establishment of a robust electoral process, managed by an independent
electoral commission to ensure free and fair elections. The former head of the
International Monetary Fund in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Karim Nashashibi,
noted that it is this institutional success, demonstrated by the Hamas election
victory, due to its undesirable outcome in the perception of the US and major
donors, that has lead to the institutional degradation of all the reform
areas.
Reaction of some powerful countries
Despite proclaimed policies, the "New Middle East policy" which is premised
on the need for democracy many major countries have refused to accept the
democratic will of the Palestinian people.
The non-recognition of a democratically elected government, the sanctions
and the withholding of Palestinian money by the Israelis is creating a
humanitarian catastrophe.
* There was a general expectation that after the Mecca Agreement and the
formation of the Government of National Unity reason would prevail.
* Agreement to respect all past agreements to seek a negotiated solution.
* To intensify efforts to ensure that the cease-fire is consolidated.
* Reactions of many countries continue to be negative.
Chairperson
This conference presented us with an opportunity to break through the
curtain of silence, ignorance and distortions of the realities in the Middle
East. This conference has provided an opportunity to share information prevent
fatigue and on the basis of real facts plan concrete solidarity actions in
support of a negotiated solution leading to a two state solution.
Despite all distortions the Palestinians at this conference have once again
declared their commitment to seek a negotiated solution based on UN Resolutions
and the Arab initiative of 2002.
We must expose and reject the Israeli claims that they have no negotiating
partner in the Palestinian camp; the reality is that the Palestinians have no
negotiating partner in the Israeli camp.
The Israeli government continues to seek a military solution. They refuse to
accept that violence has never been successful in fighting and destroying the
will of the people that are committed to fight for their self-determination
irrespective of the penalty they must pay.
The vast majority of Israeli's support a negotiated solution, however they
have been confused and immobilised because of their security concerns. We must
not ignore this reality. It is therefore important for the Palestinian
government to intensify its efforts to stop the rocket attacks against Israeli
targets.
Chairperson
The dangerous situation in the Middle East demands the concerted attention
and action of both the countries in the region and the rest of the world
including Africa. In this regard we must welcome and support the decision of
the Arab League Summit in Riyadh in March 2007 that reiterated adherence to the
Arab Peace Plan of 2002. The latter offers Israel full normalisation of
relations with the Arab League's 22 countries in exchange for full withdrawal
from Arab territories occupied in 1967 and a negotiated resolution of the
Palestinian refugee problem.
We must intensify our campaigns to convince the Israeli people and
government to respond constructively and creatively to the Arab initiative. A
historic moment for peace has arrived and the Israelis must grab it, in the
interest of the Israeli people and regional and international peace and
stability.
This conference has also once again confirmed that it is not possible to
solve any problem in the Middle East if the legitimate inalienable rights of
the Palestinians is not only accepted but made a reality. As you discussed, the
policies and actions of some powerful governments demand that we build a mass
international solidarity movement across the spectrum of society involving
governments, non-governments, trade unions, political parties, religious
leaders, business communities in support of the Palestinian people.
Minister Pahad outlined our government's position re African solidarity. Let
me elaborate on some of the elements.
Such a powerful solidarity movement should seek to pressure governments to
change their policies and to act decisively to find a genuine two state
solution.
We must intensify all our activities to defeat the diabolical scheme that is
being created by the building of the "apartheid" wall.
We must campaign to stop schemes to change the facts on the ground.
We must campaign to stop the building of any new settlements in occupied
Palestinian territory.
We must campaign to end extra-judicial killings, collective punishment, and
systematic destruction of Palestinian infrastructure.
Given the reality that governments and civil society have become victims of
a very calculated and orchestrated campaign even in the South African media, to
demonise the Palestinian leadership we must make clear both at government and
civil society level that it is the Palestinians, like any other people, who
must choose their own leaders, and we must campaign against any form of
unconstitutional regime change imposed from outside or attempted from
within.
Many recommendations have been made at this conference, which are important.
We must ensure that they are implemented.
As I said earlier, we must ask the question consistently - how long will the
international community allow the Israeli government to continue to ignore all
UN Resolutions, and violate international law with such impunity.
The reality is through the system of the UN any effective action to the
Security Council has been consistently vetoed by the US. This of course raises
the question - how do we intensify our efforts to reform the whole UN system so
that we can effectively deal with the present imbalance of forces and the
misuse of the veto power to protect countries that systematically continue to
violate international law.
This Conference must proclaim Africa's commitment to strengthen
international solidarity in aid of the inalienable right of the Palestinian
people to independence and statehood. This must be manifested in concrete
actions of solidarity.
Our immediate tasks are
* Recognition of Palestinian Government of Unity. We look forward to visits
to South Africa and Africa of the President, the Prime Minister, other
ministers and officials of the government of National Unity.
* Removal of all sanctions.
* Israel's compliance with UN Resolutions and the judgment of the International
Court of Justice on the Wall.
* Unconditional, constructive and creative Israeli response to the Arab
initiative.
Chairperson
Current developments in the region, including the stalemate in the peace
process, are threatening regional and international peace and security.
Allow me to again quote what President Mbeki said because I believe it
raises the fundamental question of the imbalance of power and the need for a
fundamentally transformed multilateral system to take up its
responsibilities.
President Mbeki: ".the question can not longer be avoided â is it now time
that the United Nations, genuinely representing all nations assumes its
rightful position and leads a global process to address all the inter-connected
challenges facing the peoples of the Middle East and West Asia? None of us is
entitled to succumb to a destructive paralysis by resigning ourselves to the
expectation that the sister peoples of the Middle East are ineluctably
condemned to be consumed by an unstoppable conflagration, foretold by current
events as an impending and modern frightening apocalypse, as a result of which
mere anarchy would be loosed upon the world."
Chairperson
Let me conclude with quoting a paragraph from ex-President Carter's recent
book:
"Peace will come to Israel and the Middle East only when the Israeli
government is willing to comply with international law, with the Roadmap for
Peace, with the wishes for a majority of its own citizens â honour its own
previous commitments â by accepting its legal borders. All Arab neighbours must
pledge to honour Israel's right to live in peace under these conditions. The
United States is squandering international prestige and goodwill and
intensifying global anti-American terrorism by unofficially condoning or
abetting the Israeli confiscation and colonisation of Palestinian
territories.
It will be a tragedy â for the Israelis, the Palestinians, and the world â
if peace is rejected and a system of oppression, apartheid, and sustained
violence is permitted to prevail."
This conference and tomorrow's NGO meeting must mobilise governments and
peoples throughout the world to respond effectively to President Mbeki and
ex-President Carter's observations, if we want to prevent a tragedy.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
10 May 2007
