NATIONAL ASSEMBLY: 27th January 2009

Madame Speaker

For the past number of weeks we have all watched in horror the devastating effects of the war in Gaza. We have all seen how Israel systematically reduced Gaza to ruins. How thousands of people were killed and wounded.

We have seen how Hamas fired uncountable rockets on Israel.

Today, thank God, that war is over and a fragile peace is in place.

Madame Speaker,

Now the massive task of working towards sustainable and economic development is to start in Palestine.

But we fear that until such time as a lasting solution is reached in the Middle East, very little may be accomplished.

The danger is that whatever may be achieved, may once again be reduced to rubble by another war.  The real and basic challenge is therefore to find lasting peace in the Middle East.

And that is something that may not occur in our lifetime, because the challenge is how to solve a struggle that is thousands of years old.

Madame Speaker,

I believe the Bible tells us more about the origin of this struggle.

I am told it started thousands of years ago with Abraham's two sons:

Izak, who became the father of the Israelites, and Ismael, the father of the Palestinians.

For thousands of years their descendants have been in bloody conflict with one another – even until today.

The IFP believes that our government is making a big mistake.

That mistake is to take sides.

Because to be on one side, is to automatically alienate the other side, which is counter productive and removes your capacity to play a role.

We in the IFP believe there is but one piece of advice one can offer the two sides, both Hamas and Israel, namely - to look at our South African experience and try to follow our successful example - namely stop the war and negotiate. 

Madame Speaker,

Wise men and women say there are three sides to an issue. Your side, my side, and the right side.

There are therefore –

the side of Hamas;

the side of Israel and

the right side.

Our government clearly erred in taking sides with the Palestinians.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs is openly and emotionally on the Palestinian side. She even talks of sanctions against Israel, and of  closing diplomatic representation.

She has therefore destroyed any trust in her with the Israelis.

Madame Speaker,

We in the IFP encourage our government for –

immediate humanitarian assistance to Gaza, and  assistance to work towards sustainable and economic development in Palestine

We further urge the government –

not to take sides, but to retain a neutral position; to impress upon both Hamas and Israel the only possible solution, namely stop the war and negotiate and to urge both side to make sacrifices in order to achieve peace.

That, Madame Speaker, will lay the foundation for South Africa's role in working towards sustainable and economic development in Palestine.

I thank you.
 

Contact:
Koos van der Merwe
083 611 7470