LARGE PARTS OF THE WEST BANK IN A FINAL SETTLEMENT

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs

MEDIA STATEMENT IN REACTION TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE ISRAELI CABINET THAT ISRAEL INTENDS RETAINING LARGE PARTS OF

The South African Department of Foreign Affairs expresses it's concern at the announcement by the Israeli Cabinet of its decision to retain large parts of the Palestinian West Bank in any final settlement of the conflict with the Palestinians. The Department reaffirmes that Israel's occupation and settlement of the West Bank is illegal in terms of International Law and contrary to various United Nations Security Council Resolutions. Israel therefore has no legitimate pre-existing claim to any territory, road or water resource in the West Bank. These issues fall within the parameters of "Final Status Issues" as defined by the Oslo accords and must still be negotiated with the Palestinians.

This step by the Israeli Cabinet is yet another pre-emptive attempt to create facts on the ground, which make a mockery of the Oslo Accords and sincere efforts to reach negotiated solutions for a durable peace in the Middel East. The Government of Israel must accept that this type of action can only compound an increasing lack of understanding among the international community for Israel's cause, ultimately leading to a further hardening of attitudes and undermining of the very goals the Netanyahu Government states it wishes to achieve.

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 16 JANUARY 1998