Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2014-07-17

Israel’s ambassador to South Africa, Arthur Lenk, has been asked to inform his government about South Africa’s stance regarding the unrest between Israel and the Palestinians.

After being earlier summoned by Dirco, Lenk met with the department’s deputy minister, Nomaindia Mfeketo, said Dirco spokesman Clayson Monyela.

Lenk was asked to explain the Israeli air strikes in Gaza.

Monyela said Mfeketo expressed the country’s “grave concern” over the escalating deadly violence between Israel and Palestinian territories.

She called for immediate, genuine talks between the two nations.

“Through ambassador Lenk, the SA government called on the State of Israel to immediately cease its air strikes into the Gaza strip, allow safe and free passage of civilians and make it possible for humanitarian organisations to work on alleviating the suffering of victims of the violence,” said Monyela.

Lenk also told The New Age yesterday he would not apologise for the escalating conflict in the Hamas-controlled Gaza.

“I am not going to apologise for Israelis not dying,” he said.

Lenk denied worldwide criticism that Palestinian people were oppressed, that Palestinian land was occupied and that it was using unnecessary force against the Palestinian people. “Gaza is not an open air prison,” he said.

Yesterday Thousands of demonstrators marched to Parliament led by the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) where pro-Palestinian demonstrators handed over a memorandum to The International Relations and Cooperation Portfolio Committee chairperson Siphosezwe Masango.

Protesters were venting their anger against Israeli military operations in Gaza and demanding the government expel Lenk.  

The MJC’s Abdul-Khaliq Ebrahim said: “The time has come for the South African government to commit itself in supporting the plight of Palestinians.

“The boycott, divestment and sanctions that have been undertaken as an international movement must be strengthened and supported.”

Meanwhile The Israeli military agreed to a UN-brokered five-hour “humanitarian” pause starting on Thursday in its strikes on the Gaza Strip to allow Palestinians to restock food, water and other necessities, hours after an attack by an Israeli naval vessel killed four Palestinian boys playing on the beach.

The death toll in Gaza yesterday breached the 200 mark, with injuries totalling about 1560 on the ninth day of Israel’s “Protective Edge” campaign.

(Twitter: @Faizie143)