Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
MEDIA STATEMENT ON THE EXPANSION OF THE ISRAELI SETTLEMENT OF YITZHAR ON THE WEST BANK
The Department of Foreign Affairs expressed concern at the decision late last week by the Israeli Government to expand an existing Jewish settlement at Yitzhar on the West Bank. This type of action violates the spirit of the Oslo Accords and moreover pre-empts future negotiations on the final status of the Occupied Territories. Coming as it does when international efforts aimed at breaking the eighteen-month deadlock in the negotiations are underway, the timing of this announcement is particularly dangerous and will be construed as provocative.
South Africa is not alone in this view. Condemnation of the Israeli Government's continuing settlement policy is universal, as embodied in numerous decisions by international fora such as the United Nations - the most recent examples being those adopted at the Tenth Emergency Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The Department of Foreign Affairs again called on the Israeli Government to exercise restraint and to demonstrate through its actions, a genuine commitment to negotiation and peace.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 21 SEPTEMBER 1998