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The IFP believes that the latest applicationby the President of the
Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, to the UN General Assembly for
non-member status for Palestine must be seen as an on-going demonstration by
a people desperately seeking sympathy from an international system that can
eventually facilitate the reality of international statehood for Palestine.

IFP spokesperson on International Relations and Cooperation, Mr MB Skosana
MP, said, "This application, and its approval,should make us all optimistic
for a peaceful settlement between Israel and Palestine, while on the other
hand the quest of Hamas for the destruction of Israel contributes a threat
to international peace and security. The UN General Assembly should have
condemned this in the same breath that it approved non-member observer
status for Palestine."

The IFP stands by its conviction that the right of Israel to existence and
self-determination must be protected under international law. So should the
independence and self-determination of the Palestinian people.

Looking at the way forward, Skosana said, "At this stage, what is important
for the UN General Assembly is to promote a direct political dialogue
between Israel and Palestine. In this way the two state solution sought by
the Oslo Accord, with its fundamental principles, can be realised."