The South African government condemned on Tuesday ”in the strongest possible terms” the latest spate of suicide bombings in the Middle East.
Foreign news agencies reported earlier in the day that Israel was on high alert following five Palestinian suicide attacks in 48 hours, which killed 12 people as well as the bombers, who included a teenage woman student.
According to a Department of Foreign Affairs statement, Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad also called on the Israeli government to end closures of Palestinian territory. The deputy minister urged the Israeli government to cease using excessive force, which he said only served to fuel the cycle of violence.
Pahad further welcomed the meeting between Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas. Pahad called on both parties to persist with peace efforts.
”Extremist elements must never be given the power to hold hostage a process aimed at finding a peaceful resolution to a conflict. These bombings, which coincide with discussions on the Road Map, are clearly aimed at derailing the process,” Pahad said of the peace initiative developed by the United States, the European Union, the United Nations, and Russia.
He also called for Israel to raise its restrictions on the movements of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
The Israel Cabinet has threatened to shun any person that meets Arafat, which Pahad described as counter-productive and would further isolate Israel. – Sapa