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South Africa, being a stickler for human rights and self-determination of sovereign states, has thrown its weight behind the 1947 General Assembly resolution for the creation of a two state in Palestine, recognizing Gaza as a sovereign state.
During his remarks at the High Level Meeting convened by Co-Chairs of The Hague Group at the Permanent Mission of Colombia to the United Nations (UN) in New York, the Minister for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in South Africa, Mr Ronald Lamola said South Africa is for the two-state solution.
Lamola cited the inhuman actions by Israel on the people of Gaza; he said Israel is attempting to wipe the people of Gaza from the face of the earth by starving and killing them. He further called for the urgent implementation of the 181 resolution adopted by the General Assembly in 1947, provided for the creation of two states.
He said at the time the resolution was adopted, South Africa and many other developing countries were under the yoke of colonialism. Many of the countries have since attained their freedom and independence. However, the inalienable right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, guaranteed under international law, has remained elusive for close to 80- years.
“South Africa hopes that this conference will plot a real path forward, based on concrete actions, for the creation of a Palestinian State existing peacefully, and side by side with the State of Israel, along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
In the week preceding this Conference a concerning message was sent when the Israeli Knesset adopted a motion calling for applying Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank, and the Jordan Valley, signalling the intention of Israel to Annex this territory. This could effectively bury the Two-State solution and continue with the blatant violation of international law, including UN resolutions and ICJ rulings which have given hope to the Palestinian people. Their hopes must not be in vain, peace must prevail,” said Ronald Lamola.
Minister Lamola pointed to the heavy weight the conference is carrying as the world is watching with anticipation for the end results of the conference. He said the conference needs to charter an actionable way forward in resolving the humanitarian crisis in Palestine.
“Global attention is on this Conference. There is an expectation that we will deliver an effective response to the destruction of an entire population and a peaceful path for preserving the prospect of a viable Palestinian State existing side by side with the State of Israel in peace and security. This expectation is not misplaced, and it could not be higher.
Eighty years since the founding of the United Nations, this is a matter that has plagued our collective conscience. The solution lies with a tangible re-commitment from all of us to the values that bind us,” concluded Minister Lamola.
