Johannesburg | Monday
THE SA Jewish Board of Deputies on Monday criticised President Thabo Mbeki’s recent statements on the Middle East conflict as one-sided.
The board said that while the president had called on Israel to withdraw its forces from Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s Ramallah headquarters, he had not condemned the Palestinian suicide bombings which have killed Israeli civilians.
”We are appalled at this one-sided call,” said Russell Gaddin, national chairman of the board.
”We believe that, unaccompanied by a similar call by the president to end the unbridled acts of terror against the Israeli civilian population, Mr Mbeki compromises South Africa’s officially stated policy of even-handedness in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” said Gaddin.
The Board of Deputies had called for an end to violence on all sides to facilitate the commencement of peace talks aimed at the creation of a Palestinian state and recognition of the state of Israel.
”The Board has now called on President Mbeki to condemn all such attacks and use his influence to persuade the perpetrators to immediately cease their heinous activities.
”Such a call could greatly enhance the prospects for peace in this troubled region,” Gaddin said. – Sapa