SA slams Israel for opportunism during Covid
The South African government has condemned the attack by Israeli soldiers on Palestinian worshippers at the al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem.
The BBC reported that at least 163 Palestinians and six Israeli police officers were injured as police fired rubber bullets and stun grenades, and Palestinians threw stones and bottles at the mosque on Friday.
The department of international relations and cooperation) condemned the planned evictions of Palestinians from annexed East Jerusalem to make way for Israeli settlements. “It is perplexing that during these unprecedented times, as the international community addresses the global challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic, Israel is exploiting the situation to advance its de facto annexation of Palestinian land.
“These acts are not only illegal, but also risk undermining the viability of a negotiated two-state solution,” the department said.
It added that SA remained committed to seeing both states co-exist in peace. “Any peace plan should not allow Palestinian statehood to devolve into an
entity devoid of sovereignty, territorial contiguity and economic viability.
“A solution must be premised
on a just settlement with just laws that is rights-based and that facilitates equality and equity for all who have a right to live in Israel
and Palestine. This includes sovereign equality between states.”