Cape Town – Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor says South Africa cannot normalise relations with Israel due to its alleged perpetration of war crimes and genocide against Palestinians.
Pandor said on Monday while delivering a lecture at the Rio Branco Institute in Brasilia, Brazil.
She condemned Israel’s actions, including the displacement of Palestinians and the lack of willingness to negotiate a viable peace plan without preconditions.
“South Africa cannot be a party to Israel’s actions that would see the promise of Palestinian Statehood reduced to balkanised entities, devoid of true sovereignty, without territorial contiguity and with no economic viability,” Pandor said.
She emphasised South Africa’s consistent concern for Palestinian civilians, especially in Gaza.
Pandor criticised the failure to establish a sovereign Palestinian state despite decades of efforts and raised alarm about the humanitarian crisis, particularly in Gaza.
She highlighted the ICJ’s ruling on Israel’s actions in Gaza and advocated for international justice.
Pandor called for an immediate ceasefire and expressed South Africa’s commitment to ending the occupation of Palestine and addressing apartheid in Israel and Palestine.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
