Committee Report on the Symposium on Palestine: discussion

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International Relations

22 November 2011
Chairperson: Mr T Magama (ANC)
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Meeting Summary

The Committee considered and approved eight outstanding minutes. Members also briefly discussed a report on the recent symposium on the Palestinian question. The symposium solicited views from broader organisations and sought contributions from civil society. The Chairperson stated that he thought the event went well, however there was an unfortunate incident where one of the presenters made derogatory remarks about the leader of the IFP; Mr Skosanna raised his objections, which were supported by the Chairperson. The Chairperson thanked Mr Skosanna for dealing with the issue in the manner that he did. The Chairperson offered a special word of thanks in absentia to both the Israeli and Palestinian ambassadors, and stated that their leadership showed on the particular day.

An ANC Member requested the tabling of a resolution on behalf of the ruling party. Opposition parties raised objections as they had not had the opportunity to engage with the report and form their own resolutions. The Committee decided to postpone the review of the report until the following meeting, so as to give Members an opportunity to digest the report and the time to prepare a resolution on behalf of their respective parties.


Meeting report

The Chairperson opened the meeting and offered apologies on behalf of Committee Members Mr S Mokgalapa (DA) and Mr B Holomisa (UDM). He noted that the Committee would consider several outstanding minutes and briefly discuss the Committee Report on the Symposium on Palestine.

Consideration of Outstanding Committee Minutes
Minutes dated 10 August 2011
The Chairperson tabled minutes dated 10 August 2011 for consideration.

Ms R Magau (ANC) proposed adoption without amendment.

Mr K Mubu (DA) seconded the proposal.

Minutes dated 17 August 2011
The Chairperson tabled minutes dated 17 August 2011 for consideration.

Mr E Sulliman (ANC) proposed adoption without amendment.

Ms W Newhoudt-Druhan (ANC) seconded the proposal.

Minutes dated 24 August 2011
The Chairperson tabled minutes dated 24 August 2011 for consideration.

Mr Mubu proposed adoption without amendment.

Mr B Skosana seconded the proposal.

Minutes dated 31 August 2011
The Chairperson tabled minutes dated 31 August 2011 for consideration.

Ms L Jacobus (ANC) proposed adoption without amendment

Ms Newhoudt- Druchen seconded the proposal.

Minutes dated 14 September 2011
The Chairperson tabled minutes dated 14 September 2011 for consideration.

Mr Skosana asked about attendance, absences and apologies for the meeting of the 14 September.

The Chairperson recused himself as Chair of the meeting and appointed Ms Magau to be acting Chairperson, as there were only two members present at the meeting of the 14 September and Mr Magama would have to propose adoption of the document, and could not do so in the capacity of Chairperson.

Mr Magama proposed adoption without amendment.

Ms Jacobus seconded the proposal.

Mr Magama retook the Chairperson position.

Minutes dated 21 September 2011
The Chairperson tabled minutes dated 21 September 2011 for consideration.

Ms C Dudley (ACDP) proposed adoption without amendment.

Mr Sulliman seconded the proposal.

Minutes dated 19 October 2011
The Chairperson tabled minutes dated 19 October 2011.

Mr Sulliman proposed adoption without amendment

Mr Mubu seconded

Minutes dated 26 October
The Chairperson tabled minutes dated 26 October 2011 for consideration.

Ms Jacobus suggested stating the names of the various presenters and their respective organisations throughout the document.

The Chairperson added that ‘Mr Halimed’ should read ‘His Excellency’

Ms Dudley stated that the minutes should reflect the fact that David Hersch made a presentation to the Committee

Mr Sulliman stated that the term ‘factions’ was problematic

The Chairperson agreed and stated that the term ‘disunity’ was more appropriate.

Mr Mubu proposed adoption with amendments.

Ms Dudley seconded the proposal.

Consideration of the Committee Report on the Symposium
The Chairperson stated that there was a report flowing from the Symposium and previous briefings on the matter of Palestine’s application for United Nations (UN) membership. The Committee had sought views from various actors. The first meeting had been “for lack of a better term: pro-Palestinian”. This meeting did not have the official view from the Israeli government represented. The second meeting was mainly pro-Israeli. The symposium solicited views from broader organisations and sought contributions from civil society. The Chairperson stated that he thought the event went well. This was an emotive issue and as expected there were some emotional outbursts. There was an unfortunate incident where one of the presenters made derogatory remarks about the leader of the IFP; Mr Skosanna raised his objections, which were supported by the Chairperson. Mr Ahmad retracted the statement, however the incident almost soiled the whole event as it was uncalled for, unnecessary and there was no place for it in the symposium. The Chairperson thanked Mr Skosanna for dealing with the issue in the manner that he did. The Committee sought a fair and balanced view from both sides. The Chairperson offered a special word of thanks in absentia to both the Israeli and Palestinian ambassadors, and stated that their leadership showed on the particular day.

The Chairperson tabled the report on the Symposium.

Ms Jacobus proposed to raise a resolution on behalf of the ANC.

Mr Mubu interjected and asked why should ANC propose a resolution separate from the Committee?

Ms Jacobus responded that she was tabling the proposal and the Committee could discuss and debate the proposal and choose to either adopt it or not.

The Chairperson stated that the Committee needed to figure out a way forward, and suggested that the Committee should reflect on the report before figuring out the way forward.

Mr Skosana asked when was the report was due.

The Chairperson stated that there was no due date because the House rose on 25 November 2011 so there was time to reflect in terms of moving forward as a Committee.

Mr Mubu reiterated his question and explained that it was prompted by the fact that the proposed resolution was positioned outside of the report.

Mr Sulliman stated that there was no need to rush the resolution.

Ms Jacobus agreed and stated that the ANC would circulate the proposed resolution and other parties could also propose similar resolutions.

Mr Skosana stated that opposing parties would make inputs, but if a resolution was on the table, there was no harm in engaging with it.

The Chairperson stated that he opened the matter of engaging with report because although Members all had strong views, a decision needed to be taken as a Committee, not the view of one party. The ANC was the dominant party on the basis of election results, but the ANC approach had always been one that sought to build consensus around issues of international relations. He referenced a point made my Mr Skosana, that parties could differ on many issues, but issues of foreign policy and South Africa’s international projection should not be among them. The Committee should navigate these issues collectively. The Chairperson sincerely hoped that the Committee would not reach a point where it had to vote on the matter of resolution.  The ANC would circulate a resolution and other parties could do the same. This would result in a document that encapsulated all views on the matter.

Ms Jacobus suggested that the Committee hear the ANC proposed resolution, so that when the Committee engaged with the report, everything was on the table.

Mr Mubu stated that first Committee members should have time to digest the symposium report, as Members had not had sufficient time to review the document. How could the Committee hear resolutions on a report that it had not internalised yet?

The Chairperson responded that the report was based on the symposium, which Members had attended. Members could discuss the report, but could not take decisions as a Committee today and no resolutions would be taken in this meeting.

Ms Magau proposed that since Members only just received the report, perhaps after having consulted with their respective parties during Committee week, Members could come back with resolutions.

The Chairperson stated that there seemed to be consensus among Committee members to close the meeting and give Members the time to review the report and to give all parties the time to come up with resolutions for the next Committee meeting.

Ms Jacobus stated that she would copy the ANC resolution and circulate it to all Committee members, and then all parties could reciprocate.

Mr Mubu agreed with the proposal but objected to having a debate, as he felt that such a debate would degenerate.

The Chairperson stated that in a previous meeting Ms Dudlley expressed the ACDP’s position and circulated a document. So the idea of a party making a submission was not irregular. Each party should give their point of view and proposals as far as the way forward. These would be presented at the next meeting and compiled into one document as a committee.

Mr Skosana asked how long the resolution should be.

The Chairperson responded, not longer than two pages that contained a summary of the party’s position.

Ms Dudley stated that the importance was not about each party’s piece, but about Palestine. The Committee had been listening, and now the position was about was peace process going to move forward. The Committee needed to come with something where it could help the situation and the way forward.

The Chairperson agreed and adjourned the meeting.


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