SA explains stance over Israel 2014-07-16 Johannesburg - Israels ambassador to South Africa, Arthur Lenk, has been asked to inform his government about South Africas stance regarding the Israel-Palestine unrest, the department of international relations and cooperation (Dirco) said on Wednesday. After being earlier summoned by Dirco, Lenk met with the departments deputy minister, Nomaindia Mfeketo, said Dirco spokesperson Clayson Monyela. Lenk was asked to explain the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. Monyela said Mfeketo expressed the countrys grave concern over the escalating deadly violence between Israel and Palestinian territories. She called for immediate, genuine talks between the two nations. Through Ambassador Lenk, the SA government called on the State of Israel to immediately cease its air strikes into the Gaza strip, allow safe and free passage of civilians and make it possible for humanitarian organisations to work on alleviating the suffering of victims of the violence, said Monyela. Mfeketo told Lenk that the country strongly opposed any threat of ground invasion and urged t Israel to refrain from making utterances that may worsen the situation. The deputy minister stressed that SA is opposed to any attempt to use the current situation to undermine the unity government in Palestine whose advent was warmly welcomed by peace-loving people the world over. The country called for Israeli authorities to lift all restriction to the importation of building material and equipment in the Gaza strip and allow destitute families to rebuild their homes and other infrastructure destroyed in the unrest. Mfeketo also demanded the immediate halt to the construction and expansion of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories by the Israeli government. She said this violated international law, gravely undermined peace efforts, and threatened the viability of the two-State solution.
Posted on: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 13:55:52 +0000
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