on the discussion: The situation in Israel and Palestine and in particular the
arrest and detention of members of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation
(PLO), Cape Town
6 June 2007
Deputy Speaker
Today as we commemorate the 40th anniversary of the six-day war, it is
important to remind ourselves of some basic truths. I must reject the notion
that this debate is a "waste of time". The opposition's remarks remind me of
the story of Rip van Winkle, who went up a mountain and fell asleep for 20
years. When he came down from the mountain he realised that a revolution had
taken place in America while he was asleep.
Sadly it seems that the opposition has been asleep for over 40 years. Today
nobody challenges the assertion that unless we resolve the issue of the
inalienable right of the Palestinian people for self-determination, regional
and international peace and security continues to be threatened. Despite
distortions South Africa's policy on the Middle East peace process continues to
be informed by the following principles:
* The inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and
independence, which entails a principled position against the military
occupation of the Palestinian people and their land.
* A belief that there can be no military solution to the conflict and that
peaceful negotiation is the only means of ensuring lasting peace, security and
stability. The foundations would be a two state solution, i.e. a Palestinian
state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital living side
by side with a secure Israel state.
* A comprehensive peace agreement between the Arabs and Israel based on the
Arab Peace initiative of 2002.
* A negotiated solution to the refugee problem.
* A commitment to multilateralism in order to secure a sustainable
solution.
Deputy Speaker
Today there is a misguided campaign to depict our policies in the Middle
East as being "one-sided," "biased partisan" and "lacking objectivity". More
dangerously, our policies are described as being "anti-Semitic".
What is the truth?
As early as 1975 the international community, recognising that the inability
to solve the Palestinian issue threatened international peace and security, in
United Nations (UN) Resolution 3236 (XXIX of 22 November 1975) defined the
inalienable rights of the Palestinians as:
* the right to self-determination without external interference
* the right to national independence and sovereignty
* the right of the Palestinians to return to their homes and property from
which they had been displaced and uprooted.
Many other UN resolutions, decisions of the International Court of Justice
and other international institutions have confirmed this position. Let me
unequivocally state that we are one-sided and partisan when it comes to
supporting the inalienable rights of the Palestinians for self-determination.
This is the position supported by the vast majority of the world. We will not
be silenced because of the erroneous suggestions that criticisms of the Israeli
government policies are anti-Semitic, one-sided and not objective.
The African National Congress (ANC) since its inception has been in the
forefront in the fight against anti-Semitism and this position will never
change. Our policy on the Middle East Peace Process - is firmly based on all
the relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions, the Oslo frame
of reference and the Arab peace initiative. We make no apologies for the fact
that South Africa is partisan when it supports calls for the creation of a
Palestinian State based on the 1967 borders and with east Jerusalem as its
capital, living side by side and in peace with Israel.
We are partisan when we publicly condemned the construction by Israel of the
Separation Wall. We were partisan when we presented a written legal argument to
the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and also participated in the oral
deliberations in The Hague on 23 February 2004. Our policy is not determined by
a "lunatic fringe."
The International Court of Justice was found on 9 July 2004 by 14 votes to
one that:
* The construction of the wall being built by Israel, the occupying power,
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem
and its associated regime, are contrary to international law.
* Israel is under an obligation to terminate its breaches of international
law; it is under an obligation to cease forthwith the works of construction of
the wall being built in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and
around East Jerusalem, to dismantle forthwith the structure therein situated
and to repeal or render ineffective forthwith all legislative and regulatory
acts relating thereto.
* Israel is under an obligation to make reparation for all damage caused by
the construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including
in and around East Jerusalem.
All States are under an obligation not to recognise the illegal situation
resulting from the construction of the wall and not to render aid or assistance
in maintaining the situation created by such construction.
Deputy Speaker
South Africa's so called lack of objectivity finds expression in our support
for democracy and the outcomes of the democratic process in Palestine as well
as in Israel. We can't demand democracy and then when the people of a country
democratically elect a government, we are expected to reject the people's
democratic choice. Therefore it is perfectly acceptable for the Government of
South Africa to recognise the democratically elected Hamas led government,
which is now a Palestinian Government of National Unity. We are "partisan" when
we criticise governments that continue to refuse to recognise the Palestinian
Government of National Unity and continue to impose sanctions against the
government.
Are we are biased and partisan when we unequivocally proclaim that until a
comprehensive, just and permanent solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
is found, the Middle East region will remain a threat to world peace and
security. We are also unapologetic when we declare that the Arab Peace
Initiative for a comprehensive peace between the Arabs and Israel is in the
interest of all the people in the region including the Israeli people and is
the best guarantee of regional and international peace and security. Are we
biased and anti-Semitic when we welcome this weeks Palestinian initiative for a
comprehensive, reciprocal and simultaneous ceasefire.
The Agreement, inter alia, states that:
1. Palestinian groups will stop firing rockets on Israel.
2. Israel stops military operations and offensives including air strikes,
ground offensives and naval attacks.
3. The ceasefire will expand to include the West Bank.
4. This agreement will be implemented as soon as the parties accept it.
5. Israel stops arrests, extrajudicial killings and assassinations of
Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
6. The issue of wanted and deported persons, as well as the issue of prisoners
should be solved according to a clear-cut agreement.
7. Israel will release detained and abducted ministers and Palestinian
Legislative Council (PLC) members.
8. The agreement will include an Israeli withdrawal from areas occupied
since 28 September 2000.
9. Removal of roadblocks and checkpoints in the West Bank and the easing of
passage through crossings.
10. Following the implementation of the first and second points of the
agreement, the PA shall deploy security forces at the eastern and northern
borders of the Gaza Strip, and will implement the security plan to establish
the rule of law and order. Are we "partisan and biased when we express concern
about the humanitarian catastrophe engulfing the Palestine people?
Deputy Speaker,
South Africa is biased in condemning all forms of violence against civilians
by all parties involved in the conflict. We condemn Israel's policy of
extra-judicial killings which is in direct violation of international law and
in violation of the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of civilian
persons in Time of War, to which Israel is a High Contracting Party. We also
condemn suicide bombings against Israeli civilians and the shooting of rockets
into Israel territory.
Deputy Speaker,
Are we partisan and biased when we call for the end of the arrest of
Palestinian leaders, including ministers. Are we partisan and biased when we
criticise Israel's extra-judicial killings of Palestinians and the recent
threat to assassinate Prime Minister Haniyeh and Hamas leader Khaled Mishael.
Let me categorically state that we will be biased in our rejection of all
attempts to describe our criticism of the Israeli government's policies which
are contrary to international and humanitarian law as being antiâSemitic and
partisan.
We will also be biased and partisan when we call on the Palestinian
political leadership to take decisive action to prevent any possibilities of a
Palestinian Civil War, which will be a catastrophe for the Palestinian people's
desire for self-determination. Those who refuse to accept the truth and
criticise our policies should ask themselves, is the majority of humanity wrong
or are they wrong. Their un-objective, partisan, biased defence of the Israeli
government's policies at all costs are not in the interest of the Israeli
people, regional and international peace and stability. Unlike Rip van Winkle
let's wake up to the realities and work together to achieve a two-state
solution and a comprehensive Arab-Israel Peace Agreement.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
6 June 2007
