A press release via the SAZF on Tony Leon's (leader of the opposition in South Africa) recent visit to Israel.
Click the "Continue Reading" link to access the press release.
In his address to the South African Zionist Federation this week after his recent visit to the Middle East, Tony Leon reflected on the difference between his 2005 trip and that to Ramallah in 2002, when the Mukhata, Yasser Arafat's headquarter, was in ruins and there was a strong Israeli physical presence in the area. Regarding the Palestinian elections, Mr Leon referred to Hamas as "men of militancy or no compromise." He also quoted Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice's statement that terror and the apparatus of terror were not to be politically rewarded.
Mr Leon said that Hamas had boycotted these elections with less than 50% of the electorate casting their vote. Despite this election being perceived to be relatively free and fair, Hamas's actions had helped to create a "democratic deficit" within the Palestinian community.
It was also an extraordinarily positive democratic development that Palestinians had cast their votes, notwithstanding being under occupation.
Mr Leon had met with Prime Minister Sharon and they had spoken frankly and openly on a number of issues. Mr Sharon was on record as stating that while Arafat was a murderer, Mahmoud Abbas was not, which engendered hope with the Israelis. Sharon reiterated that the Palestinian security forces were quite capable of dismantling the terror infrastructure and reducing the hostile fire from the Palestinian territories. Suffering would be reduced, he said, if this, together with a curb in anti-Israel incitement in the Palestinian areas, was enforced. Tremendous suffering on both sides was a feature of the Middle East landscape.
Mr Leon found that both Palestinians and Israelis were more positive about the prospects for peace and that this week's summit in Sharm-El-Shaik was truly momentous and presented a first decisive step in ending the destructive cycle of violence.
Mr Leon described how the current situation had exacerbated suffering in the Palestinian areas; how the Palestinian infrastructure had deteriorated, and how access to health care, among others, had been compromised.
Mr Leon emphasised Prime Minister Sharon's commitment to Israel and his prime consideration, that of ensuring the safety and security of the people of Israel.
Mr Leon spoke of the internal threat facing PM Sharon as a result of his intended disengagement from the Gaza Strip. He mentioned too that both leaders struggled against extremist elements in their respective communities.
Mr Leon quoted Prime Minister Sharon who felt that the submission by the South African government to The Hague on Israel's Security Barrier reinforced the strongly pro-Palestinian stance of this government.
In conclusion, Mr Leon said that despite the problems this country faces, South Africans can rejoice that they have peace and democracy in their land, and great hopes for the future.
Comments