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| Africa Subsaharan |
| South Africa will work with Hamas |
| 2006-03-30 |
| CAPE TOWN — SA has condemned what it terms “collective punishment of the Palestinian people for electing Hamas”, Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad said yesterday. Speaking ahead of today’s state visit by Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas, Pahad said government was planning to work closely with Hamas, which recently won elections for the Palestinian parliament. SA’s approach is contrary to that of the US, European Union and Israel, which have deemed Hamas a terrorist organisation and responded to its victory by threatening diplomatic isolation and a funding freeze for the Palestinian Authority unless Hamas recognises Israel and renounces violence. The Abbas visit comes against the background of another major shift in Middle East politics with victory for the new and moderate Kadima party in Israeli elections this week. Briefing the media on Abbas’ visit, Pahad said the changes in the region presented an historic opportunity for both Palestine and Israel to take a new approach to the resolution of their conflict. He said it was unacceptable that those clamouring for democracy in Palestine should now reject the result because they did not like the people’s choice. This was particularly worrying since the Palestinian election was considered fair and transparent. “SA will interact with whatever authority the Palestinians have chosen,” Pahad said. On the issue of certain countries threatening to withhold donor funds because of Hamas’ election, he said such measures could only make matters worse. “The Palestinians should not be collectively punished for exercising their democratic rights,” Pahad said. He said the Abbas visit was eagerly anticipated in SA and it was hoped that Abbas would enlighten President Thabo Mbeki on the situation in the Middle East. Mbeki and Abbas were expected to discuss the relations between SA and the Palestinian territories. They will also discuss the peace process between Israel and the Palestinian territories. Pahad said he and Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils would visit Palestine next week to assess how SA could boost the peace process. He said he hoped that they would also get the opportunity to meet the new Israeli leadership. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #3 South Africa will work with Hamas Shit Head working with Hamas, [lives in America now [Caliphornia] with anti-American Iranian wife and awaits citizenship, thank you] |
| Posted by: Ulinter Thrash6708 2006-03-30 12:04 |
| #2 Once again, thank you, F.W. De Klerk. |
| Posted by: Grunter 2006-03-30 10:56 |
| #1 Surprise meter please. I hope the community is keeping a close eye on the nuclear power reactors built by the French at Koeberg. I'd put nothing past the ANC. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-03-30 08:03 |