/ 26 April 2002

Israel must withdraw, says Dlamini-Zuma

Pretoria | Friday

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, in her capacity as chairwoman of the ministerial meeting of the co-ordinating bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), has called on Israel to withdraw its troops from Palestinian cities.

She also said the siege on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat should come to an end.

”The chairwoman stated that the Israeli aggression is in breach not only of Israel’s obligations under agreements that it has signed with the Palestinians, but also constitute a breach of the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and all international instruments on human rights and international humanitarian law,” the statement read.

Dlamini-Zuma also accused Israel of committing atrocities against Palestinian civilians in the reoccupied Palestinian cities of Nablus and Jenin.

The statement said Israel should allow unconditional immediate access to the United Nations fact-finding mission to investigate the situation and reported atrocities in the Jenin refugee camp. The NAM ministerial committee on Palestine is due to meet in Durban at the weekend.

It will give detailed attention to the current situation in Palestine and will report to the entire membership of the NAM on April 28. – Sapa