SA govt weighs in on US Middle East peace plan, insists on sovereign Palestinian state
The government of South Africa has noted the announcement of a peace plan by the United States aimed at resolving the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In a statement, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) says: "South Africa believes that it is only initiatives developed with the full participation of the people of Palestine that can achieve lasting peace and remains consistent in its view that genuine inclusive, open dialogue can resolve the current impasse."
It goes on to say that the South African government is of the view that processes begin through genuinely committed dialogue aimed at determining lasting solutions.
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"South Africa continues to support international efforts aimed at the establishment of a viable Palestinian state, existing side by side in peace with Israel within internationally recognized borders, based on those existing on 4 June 1967, prior to the outbreak of the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with all relevant UN resolutions, international law and internationally agreed parameters."
Dirco says SA will maintain its position that "any peace plan should not allow Palestinian statehood to devolve into an entity devoid of sovereignty, territorial contiguity and economic viability."
"Doing so would severely compound the failure of previous peace-making efforts, accelerate the demise of the two-state option and fatally damage the cause of durable peace for Palestinians and Israelis alike," says Dirco.