South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Ministry has strongly condemned Israel’s plan to annex the Jordan Valley and West Bank settlements calling it a “threat to Palestine’s existence”.
The ministry in an official statement expressed South Africa’s deep concern over the planned execution of Israel’s provocative plan to annex the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
The ministry described Israel’s actions as “a stark violation” and “complete disregard” for the international humanitarian law and UN Security Council Resolutions including Resolutions 446 (1979) and 2334 (2016) which explicitly call for an end to Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and the fulfilment of the rights of the Palestinian people including to self-determination and independence.
“It is perplexing that during these unprecedented times as the international community addresses the global challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic Israel is exploiting the situation to advance its de facto annexation of Palestinian land” the ministry said.
It continued “The dangerous prospect of Israel continuing with its unilateral actions and annexing large parts of the occupied West Bank and Jordan Valley is not only belligerent but also threatens efforts to advance regional peace.”
The ministry stressed that these acts are not only illegal but also undermine the viability of a negotiated two-state solution and will have negative consequences on the entire peace process.
“South Africa remains unequivocally committed to and values efforts aimed at reviving a political process that would lead to 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 with East Jerusalem as its capital in compliance with all relevant UN Resolutions international law and internationally agreed parameters” the South African ministry added.
The statement was concluded by a warning that any peace plan should not allow Palestinian statehood to devolve into an entity devoid of sovereignty territorial contiguity and economic viability.
