News24 | All nations must obey international law for two-state solution to work, Ramaphosa tells UN

President Cyril Ramaphosa called for global recognition of Palestine and adherence to international law to enable a two-state solution.

• President Cyril Ramaphosa called for global recognition of Palestine and adherence to international law to enable a two-state solution during a meeting of world leaders convened by France and Saudi Arabia.
• Ramaphosa condemned Israel's acts in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire, an end to genocide, respect for international law, a halt to illegal settlements, and restoration of Gaza's humanitarian aid.
• France, UK, Canada and others recognised Palestine's statehood; Saudi Arabia encouraged nations to follow suit, aiming for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East.

President Cyril Ramaphosa told a meeting of global heads of state that a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel is dependent on the whole international community following the law.

At this meeting, convened by France and Saudi Arabia, several countries expressed their recognition of Palestinian statehood.

Ramaphosa welcomed this move.

“South Africa reiterates its firm commitment to the creation of a contiguous Palestinian state existing peacefully and side by side with the state of Israel, along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital,” Ramaphosa said, expressing the country’s long-standing policy position on the conflict.

Ramaphosa said South Africa condemned Hamas’ 7 October 2023 attack, but in response, Israel unleashed disproportionate violence on the people of Palestine.

“And we say here today, that the only solution to this conflict is a two-state solution.”

READ | France joins other Western allies in recognising Palestinian state

Ramaphosa said: “The viability of a two-state solution depends on full and universal respect for international law.”

He said all states, including Israel, must comply with collective obligations under international law.

“This is a conflict that has gone on for almost as long as the United Nations has existed,” said Ramaphosa.

He said the international community had to work together to achieve a lasting solution.

READ | Israel issues furious response to Palestinian state recognition: ‘It will not happen’

On the eve of the conference, the UK, Canada, Australia, and Portugal recognised a Palestinian state, and at Monday’s meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would join them.

“The recognition of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people takes nothing away from the rights of the people of Israel, who France supported from day one and to the respect of which it is staunchly committed,” he said, according to a statement from the UN.

Macron added:

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud thanked the countries that have recognised the state of Palestine or announced their intention to do so.

“We call on all other countries to take a similar historic step that will have a great impact on supporting the efforts towards the implementation of the two-state solution, achieve permanent and comprehensive peace in the Middle East, and find a new reality whereby the region can enjoy peace, stability and prosperity,” he said.

On Tuesday, Ramaphosa is expected to address the UN General Assembly.

Over the weekend, DA federal council chairperson and mayoral candidate for Johannesburg, Helen Zille wouldn’t classify what Israel is doing to Palestine as genocide in an interview with Newzroom Afrika, saying that “genocide is very big word” and that she hadn’t been to Gaza.

She did, however, express support for the two-state solution, saying that Israel and Palestine both have a right to exist and the conflict would be resolved when that is recognised.

Nonetheless, the ANC, in a statement, accused the DA of coming out “guns blazing to justify and support the annihilation of the Palestinian people by Israel”.

ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri noted that several states, including Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Mexico, have recently recognised the state of Palestine, lending support to the two-state solution.

“However, in South Africa we continue to see this recognition of the state of Palestine and support for the two-state solution being undermined by the DA, through its federal council chairperson, Helen Zille.

“Today, the ANC stands vindicated not only in its government’s pursuit of the genocide case against Israel in the International Court of Justice but also against the DA who stand for promoting crimes against humanity and genocide.”