The South African government condemned both Israel and Palestinians for actions against each other which claimed several lives, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday.
The department said in a statement that the government welcomed the Palestinian Authority’s condemnation of Wednesday’s bomb attack on a bus in the Megiddo area which claimed the lives of 16 Israelis.
”The South African government reiterates its condemnation of such acts of terror resulting in tragic losses of civilian lives that can only serve the ends of extremists and warmongers on both sides of the conflict.”
The government also criticised Israel’s incursion into Ramallah on Wednesday night and its attack on the offices of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat which led to the death of one of his security officers.
”The majority of Israelis and Palestinians crave peace and security,” said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aziz Pahad. He lashed out at the Israeli Defence Force for its counterattack that targeted Arafat’s offices.
”How many people must die in this conflict before Israel will realise that the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people to self determination cannot be thwarted by military might and attacks on their legitimate, elected leader?
”When will they realise that closures, blockades and incursions are not making Israelis safe and secure? Indeed they are making Israeli civilians targets of misguided frustration and despair.”
Pahad welcomed the visit of the director of the CIA, George Tenet, to the Middle East this week.
He called on the international community to intensify its work towards finding a peaceful solution to the Middle East problem.
”It is the responsibility of all members of the international community to ensure that those who use violence and force do not silence the voice of peace and justice.
”South Africa re-affirms and recommits itself to the goal of finding a peaceful, equitable settlement to the conflict, as envisaged by the Arab League peace proposals, in which Israel and Palestine may live side by side in sovereign statehood and good neighbourliness.” – Sapa