29 October 2000
The South African Deputy Minister, Mr Aziz Pahad, leading a delegation of the Middle East Task Team of the Department of Foreign Affairs, met with a joint delegation of the leadership of
The South African Government briefed the representatives of the Muslim organisations on its process of consultations on the Middle East Crisis with interested parties across the board, including Religious Communities in South Africa.
Both parties agreed to issue the following statement:
1.. The Government of South Africa and the representatives of the South African Muslim organisations have committed themselves to remain steadfast in support of a just and comprehensive peaceful resolution of the crisis in the Middle East.
2.. Both parties express their support for the Palestinian struggle for justice.
3.. Both parties condemn the excessive and disproportionate use of force by the Israeli Government.
4.. They also make an earnest appeal to all communities in South Africa to ensure that the Middle East conflict does not lead to disturbances of public order and peace in South Africa.
5.. Both parties reaffirm the constitutional rights of South Africans to express their views openly, freely and peacefully.
6.. Both parties further agreed to conduct dialogue and ongoing consultations on foreign policy issues, and in particular on the Middle East Crisis, through mutually agreed open channels.
The following Muslim Organisations were represented at the meeting:
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