President Jacob Zuma today, 25 May 2016, at Tuynhuys in Cape Town, hosted his Palestinian counterpart President Mahmoud Abbas on a Working Visit to strengthen socio-political ties as well as trade and economic relations between South Africa and Palestine.
The two Heads of State held bilateral talks on a broad range of issues including the current initiatives aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestine stand-off, in particular the postponed Paris Middle East Conference, also known as the French Initiative, which was initially scheduled for 30th May 2016.
President Abbas also briefed President Zuma on efforts at Intra-Palestine reconciliation and progress towards elections and the formation of a government of national unity.
“We are very pleased that we have hosted His Excellency President Abbas again. The visit today enabled us to further gain a better understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian situation and also to probe, to get more details of the French Initiative as a mechanism to resolve the longstanding Middle East impasse as well as to hear whether there was any role that South Africa could play as proposed today by President Abbas,” said President Zuma at the conclusion of the visit.
President Zuma also welcomed the report by President Abbas that there was some progress towards Palestinian elections and a National Unity Government.
Welcoming the President to South Africa earlier, President Zuma said: “It is my great pleasure to welcome you again to our shores and South Africa will continue to be a liberated zone and a friend of the Palestinian people. We also send our country’s good wishes ahead of the crucial meeting initially scheduled for 30th May, which has now been re-scheduled.”
The Working Visit took place at a time of heightened tension between Palestinians and Israelis, increased construction of illegal settlements in occupied Palestinian lands, and escalating frustration among Palestinians due to lack of visible progress on the Middle East Peace Process. President Abbas has visited South Africa twice before over the past two years.
He undertook a State Visit to South Africa in November 2014 and also attended the African Union Summit in June 2015 in Sandton.
South Africa and Palestine enjoy cordial relations that date back to the days of the Anti-Apartheid struggle. South Africa recognised the State of Palestine in 1995 and was among the more than 200 states that voted for the hoisting of the Palestinian National flag at the UN Headquarters.
In addition, last month the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Mr Parks Tau unveiled a huge statue of President Nelson Mandela in the centre of Ramallah City. The statue was donated by the City of Johannesburg as a sign of friendship between the two cities.
Since 1995, South Africa and Palestine have signed a number of bilateral agreements anchored on the Joint Commission of Co-operation that was established in 1995. In 2014, at the height of the Gaza War, President Zuma appointed former Minister Zola Skweyiya and former Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad as Special Envoys on the Middle East Peace Process.
Enquiries:
Dr Bongani Ngqulunga
Cell: 082 308 9373
E-mail: bongani@presidency.gov.za
