Reacting to news of the killing in the last two days of four Israeli military personnel in South Lebanon, apparently by members of the Hizbollah movement, the Department of Foreign Affairs called on all parties concerned to exercise restraint at this crucial and difficult stage of the peace process. A descent into a cycle of retaliation and counter-attack can only serve the agenda of those who have no wish to see peace in the region and who wish to destroy the incipient climate of peace-making. The Department therefore appeals to the Israeli authorities to answer these incidents with the most powerful response there can be – namely to redouble efforts at establishing a lasting peace with Lebanon and Syria.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
Pretoria
1 FEBRUARY 2000