Tag it:

South African Minister of Intelligence Mr. Ronnie Kasrils visited the Palestinian territories from 01 May to 06 May 2007, including the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Minister Kasrils lead a delegation that represented both the Government of South Africa and the ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), and included Mr. Dumisani Sithole Member of South Africa's Parliament (MP) and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs; Dr Ted Pekane South African Representative to the Palestinian National Authority; Ms M Ntenteni of the ANC Women's League as well as senior officials.

Minister Kasrils was the guest speaker during South Africa's Freedom Day celebrations which were held in Gaza and Ramallah. During the visit the delegation met with President Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, Palestinian Authority Ministers and officials, Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) members, NGO's, political party representatives and think tanks. The Minister delivered a lecture, which was well received, at the Birzeit University on lessons of the South African struggle and comparisons with apartheid. He visited the Wall in Bethlehem with Dr Mustafa Barghouti, Minister of Communication; in solidarity with the people of the historic city which is now totally enclosed by the Wall except for two gated entrances.  

 The Minister laid a wreath on behalf of the South African Government and the people of South Africa, at the memorial site of the late President Yasser Arafat in the Muqata (Presidential Quarters), Ramallah.

 Minister Kasrils conveyed to the Palestinian National Authority and the people of Palestine the firm solidarity and support of the South African Government and people for the just cause of the Palestinian people. During his meetings he extended his congratulations to the Palestinians for having formed the Palestinian National Unity Government; called upon the international community to work with the National Unity Government representing the voices of 97% of the Palestinian electorate; and said that South Africa looked forward to receiving a delegation of the Palestinian National Unity Government lead by its Prime Minister, to South Africa. This invitation was strongly welcomed and endorsed by President Mahmoud Abbas. Minister Kasrils emphasized the importance of unity in action of the Palestinian people in order to achieve its strategic goal of a free and sovereign Palestinian state on the 1967 borders. The Minister pointed out that those who myopically object to such invitations merely show that they have learnt nothing from South Africa's transition. Such logic as they espouse would not have allowed PW Botha to have met with the imprisoned Mandela nor his release by FW De Klerk as a partner in negotiations.

Minister Kasrils called upon Israel to immediately release without any conditions all the Palestinian customs revenues it unlawfully withholds; to end its occupation, land annexations and in keeping with the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) remove the Apartheid Wall; remove all Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories; to stop its continued aggression against the Palestinian people; and to start a process of negotiations, in good faith, with the Palestinian representatives in order to arrive at a peaceful and just outcome of the conflict in the interest of peace and security for both the Palestinian and the Israeli people. He also called upon Israel to release all the fourty one PLC members arrested by Israel and the eleven thousand Palestinian prisoners, including women and children, who remain in Israeli prisons.

The Minister called upon the international community to end the financial siege and blockade imposed upon the Palestinian people and to put pressure on the Israeli Government to end its cruel fourty-year long occupation of the Palestinian Territories in contravention of international law and UN Resolutions.

Minister Kasrils reiterated the commitment of the South African Government towards the achievement, through peaceful negotiations, of a two-state solution based on a viable Palestinian state on the 1967 borders and in accordance with the relevant UN Resolutions.

Issued at the South African Mission Ramallah; 06 May 2007