The Palestinian government on Wednesday in Cape Town thanked the South African government and the public for its long-standing allegiance to the Arab nation.

“We appreciate very much what you are doing for us,” said the Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat.

Erekat was part of the Palestinian delegation that paid a state visit to South Africa on Wednesday, led by their President Mahmoud Abbas.

Abbas and South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma met behind closed doors at Tuynhuis in Cape Town before joining a bilateral with their delegations.

Thereafter, Erekat and South African Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe, addressed media on the outcomes, among which was the update on the Palestine-Israel situation.

“We are facing a lot of difficulties and a lot of obstacles due to the Israeli-settlement activities, insurgencies, extrajudicial killings, the siege and closure in Gaza,” said Erekat.

“But we shall overcome.”

Erekat said that Abbas had confirmed to Zuma that South Africa was invited to attend the Paris Middle East Conference on June 3. Here, South Africa would participate in discussions with some 23 other states about a way forward for peace negotiations and a proposed solution for the Middle East situation.

South Africa would use the consultative ministerial meeting to forge ahead with its continued support for a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

“We can count on South Africa because South Africa has always stood for the two-state solution, the State of Palestine living side-by-side with the State of Israel in peace and security,” said Erekat.

Erekat also conveyed Palestine’s appreciation of the recently erected Nelson Mandela statue which was donated by the City of Johannesburg and unveiled in April in Ramallah.

“We were very proud last month in Ramallah when we had the statue of comrade, our leader Nelson Mandela [unveiled],” said Erekat.

“[It is] the most important statue to our hearts, our minds, and to our aspirations.”

He went on to convey the Palestinian government’s Africa Day well-wishes to Zuma, South Africa, and “our African brothers”.