South Africa on Friday joined the international community in reiterating its unwavering solidarity with the people of Palestine.
South Africa called on the global community to act purposively towards a just and peaceful end of the occupation as guided by international law.
The South African Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation made the plea in a statement marking the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, on Nov. 29.
It said that this year marks the 42nd anniversary since the United Nations (UN) General Assembly established the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
The statement added that a just ending of the occupation must address disputes regarding the borders for a viable two-state solution, the return of all Palestinian refugees, the status of East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state and a halting of all illegal settlements.
South Africa is concerned over the actions by the Israeli government to foreclose the final status issues, disregarding UN Security Council resolutions on the Middle East Peace Process, said the statement.
“South Africa calls on all key stakeholders to ensure that all obligations under international law are met in order for a peaceful and just ending of the occupation of Palestine.
The statement said in apparent reference to a recent U.S. decision, stating that the Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories do not violate the international law.
On Nov. 18, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the U.S. government would no longer consider Israel’s West Bank settlements inconsistent with the international law, a move that further dims the future of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
