Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
24 October 2000
The Department of Foreign Affairs once again expresses its profound concern at the worsening and downward spiraling of the overall political and security situation in the Middle East. The extremely negative recent developments in the Middle East are not in the interest of the Peoples, Leaders and States of the Region, nor are they in the interest of world peace and security.
In this regard the Department of Foreign Affairs notes with keen interest the decisions of the Arab Summit held on 21 and 22 October 2000 in Cairo, Egypt.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has also noted with sharp interest the deliberations and decisions of the Fifth Special Session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights held on 17 to 19 October 2000, in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Department of Foreign Affairs welcomes and fully endorses the outcome of the Tenth Emergency Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on the situation in the Middle East held on 20 October 2000.
In the light of the continuing excessive and disproportionate use of force by Israel, the Department of Foreign Affairs calls upon the International Community to give urgent and serious consideration to the calls for the provision of international protection, under the auspices of the United Nations, to Palestinians under Israeli occupation.
The Department of Foreign Affairs further calls for the institution of an international mechanism for the establishment of truth regarding the tragic events since 28 September 2000. The Department of Foreign Affairs categorically condemns the unlawful and punitive Israeli practices of collective punishment including the prevention of the airlifting of wounded Palestinians from Gaza Airport and the use of high-tech military equipment against Palestinian residential areas.
The growing culture of political impunity, as represented by the events of 28 September 2000, represents a dire threat to the prospect of a peaceful resolution to the Middle East Crisis and should be combated through appropriate international mechanisms. The Department of Foreign Affairs condemns the activities of bands of armed civilians opposed to the negotiation process, both on the Israeli and the Palestinian sides.
The Department of Foreign Affairs calls for the immediate and complete cession of all hostilities in order to create a climate conducive to the resumption of negotiations.
For more information, please contact Basetsana Thokoane Office No. (012) 351 0174 Cell No. 083 443 7740