Question NW3175 to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
11 December 2023 - NW3175
Hlengwa, Mr M to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
In light of the media statement issued by her department on 7 October 2023 calling for the immediate cessation of violence, for restraint and for peace between Israel and Palestine, and extending the offer for the Republic to share its experience in mediation and conflict resolution, (a) where and (b) how will the proposed mediation and conflict resolution take place as the Republic does not have an ambassador in Israel and there has been no Israeli Embassy in the Republic since 2018?
Reply:
South Africa is open to exploring different avenues about (a) where and (b) how the proposed mediation and conflict resolution will take place. The mediation process could be held in South Africa, Israel, Palestine or in any country in the Middle East region.
There is political will and interest in South Africa in hosting a similar event that took place in 2002 where South Africa had endeavoured to broker peace talks between Israel and Palestine under the “Spier Presidential Peace Retreat.” South Africa hosted two rounds of Spier talks in 2002, aimed at strengthening the peace camps on both sides and looked to share South Africa’s negotiated transitional experiences. This initiative demonstrated the spirit of commitment to dialogue and partnership for peace between the parties.
South Africa is also open to collaborate or play a supportive role to regional states such as Qatar and Egypt regarding mediation and conflict resolution as well as the mediation and conflict resolution work led by the Quartet (US, European Union (EU), Russia. South Africa has declared itself in favour of the deployment of an international monitoring force in the occupied Palestinian territories.