A visit by South African President Thabo Mbeki to Palestine is being discussed with that nation’s president as well as the new Hamas government but any visit will be judged against its contribution to peace in the area, says South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aziz Pahad.
A cautious Pahad told a media briefing at Parliament on Wednesday that his government has not come under any pressure from the United States not to visit Palestine, although South Africa has noted the position of the US and European Union regarding Hamas as a terrorist group.
While the South African government holds the view that Hamas’s victory in elections in Palestine needs to be accepted, Hamas also needs to accept all facets of the Oslo accord.
”This meant that not only did they accept participation in elections in Palestine but they also needed to accept the two-state solution,” said Pahad.
This means that Hamas needs to understand ”the reality of Israel”.
At the same time the South African government holds the view that Israel cannot unilaterally draw the borders between the two states, he said.
Pahad acknowledged that South Africa is not under the illusion that it can produce ”another plan” and indeed, the area does not need ”any new plans” for peace. – I-Net Bridge