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South Africa's ruling party condemns Israeli attacks on Gaza

by Miriam Mannak | January 6, 2009 at 05:47 am

556 views | 64 Recommendations | 6 comments

In a public statement which was released today, South Africa’s ruling party has condemned Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip. The African National Congress (ANC) said that “as long as Israel continues to occupy land rightfully belonging to the Palestinian people, there will not be a lasting solution to the problems and conflict in the Middle East region.”

The statement said that that the Palestinian people should have a right to exist within a sovereign state, with secure borders alongside a sovereign Israeli state.

The political party added “ that it is way beyond time that the Israeli government accepts the position outlined by the United Nations (UN); most notably in the UN Human Rights Commission Resolution of June 1996.”

Taking the previous in consideration, the ANC calls for an immediate end to air strikes and land attacks, which have cost over 500 lives in nine days. Thousands of people were injured.

“Collective punishment is not going to resolve the enmity between Palestine and Israel; what will move the peace process forward is addressing the root cause of the conflict,” the ANC statement concluded. “Israel is in violation of international laws governing retaliatory engagements and is creating a deep humanitarian crisis.

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Heritage

at 06:27 on January 6th, 2009

Why did it take ten days?

Miriam Mannak

at 13:29 on January 6th, 2009

AS they say: Better late then never. Yes, it took ten days, but some (most) countries refuse to say anything. So lets not turn something slightly positive into something negative, shall we?

Heritage

at 00:44 on January 7th, 2009

Fair enough. Venezuela has gone a few steps further...

Israeli envoy to Caracas expelled

Uwe Paschen

at 06:32 on January 6th, 2009

Finally. Japan did that over a week ago.

Tiny du Preez (not verified)

at 22:23 on January 6th, 2009

I do not understand how they can make such statements if their own back yard is in a similar mess. Our wives and daugters are being raped, our properties plundered and our senior citizens murdered. I think they are F*#%D UP !!!!!!!

Miriam Mannak

at 22:32 on January 6th, 2009

Obviously you are right in this - there is a lot of work to be done in S Africa. But that does not mean the government can't condemn what is happening elsewhere in the world.