REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri
Faizel Patel – 30/07/2021
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the continuing conflict in Palestine should have been enough to deny Israel observer status by the African Union Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat
The international relations department has accused the commission chair of failing to consult with members states before granting Israel’s request.
Government says the decision to grant Israel observer status is even more shocking in a year in which the oppressed people of Palestine were hounded by destructive bombardments and continued illegal settlements of the land, blasting the move as “inexplicable” and “incomprehensible”.
Israel enjoyed this status until 2002 when the Organisation for African Unity dissolved itself to become the AU.
Ramaphosa says South African remains opposed to the decision
“We are concerned about the decision that has been made and as it is now a number of countries are expressing their unhappiness and dissatisfaction.”
Government says it firmly believes that as long as Israel is not willing to negotiate a peace plan without preconditions it should not have observer status.
The AU handed Israel the observer status on Thursday, a move the two parties expected would enable Israel to further help the AU battle the coronavirus pandemic and terrorism on the continent.
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