The African National Congress is encouraged by practical steps  that
President Zuma has taken of inviting the Palestinian President of
Mahomoud Abbas to South Africa to discuss the situation of Palestine and
current conflict. We are concerned that the sustained escalation of the
offensive can only lead to more deaths and a drift away from the two
states solution in respect of the 1967 determination.

The ANC welcomes the decision of the South African President the
Honorable Jacob Zuma of sending Aziz Pahad as a Special Envoy to Israel
and GAZA to register South Africa's concerns on the current violence in
the Middle East.

The ANC believes that direct engagement with all parties will assist in
persuading each party to help de-escalate the offensive that has grown to
current proportions. We urge all South Africans including the Jewish
community to join hands with our government in persuading all parties to
the conflict to opt for a peaceful solution to the current crisis.