Palestinian Legislative Council briefing on situation in Palestine

Meeting report

FOREIGN AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
29 January 2003
PALESTINIAN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BRIEFING ON SITUATION IN PALESTINE

Chairperson: Dr ZP Jordan (ANC)

Documents handed out:
None

SUMMARY
Members of the Palestinian Parliament were meant to address the Committee, but they had been prevented from coming by the Israeli government. The Committee was therefore briefed by members of the Palestinian Legislative Council. The delegates explained that it was not possible for anyone between the ages of sixteen and 35 to move around as the Israelis had occupied all of Palestine and had enforced a curfew. In terms of the Oslo Agreement, the Palestinians had agreed to accept 22% of the land and live side by side with the Israelis. There were, however, five unresolved issues. The resettlement of Palestinians, Jerusalem, the borders between Israel and Palestine, the position of refugees and natural resources; most importantly, water.

Morning session [Briefing on internal situation in Zimbabwe] to follow shortly.

Afternoon session
Briefing by Palestinian Legislative Council
The Chairperson explained that Members of the Palestinian Parliament were supposed to have come to address them, but they had been prevented from coming by the Israeli government. They were therefore being briefed by members of the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Mr Nashat Qarioti, General Coordinator of the Palestinian Legislative Council noted that it was very difficult for Palestinians to move around at the moment. He explained that it was not possible for anyone between the ages of sixteen and 35 to move around as the Israelis had occupied all of Palestine and had enforced a curfew. The only way he could come to South Africa was to use his Jordanian passport and come via Jordan.

The situation in Palestine had become worse since Ariel Sharon had come to power and the Israelis were moving further to the right. Since 1993 to 2000, every section of life had become harder. In terms of the Oslo Agreement, the Palestinians had agreed to accept 22% of the land and live side by side with the Israelis. There remained just five issues which needed to be finalised. These were as follows:
-Resettlement of Palestinians.
-Jerusalem.
-The borders between Israel and Palestine.
-The position of refugees.
-Natural resources; most importantly, water.

It was his opinion that the Israelis needed the Palestinians just to be slaves for them. He pointed out that the Palestinians were cheap labour for the Israelis. He made it clear that it was a big compromise on the part of the Palestinians to accept 22% of the land, yet Israel was not prepared to compromise at all. He made it clear that it was Ariel Sharon's visit to the Mosque in Jerusalem, a holy site to the Muslims, which sparked the new Intifada.

The United States prefers to give the impression that the Palestinians are not for peace and that they had rejected 94% of the peace deal offered. He explained that the Palestinians were not prepared to compromise on the Jordan Valley, which is regarded as the bread basket of the region. He reminded the Committee that Mr Sharon had a history of committing massacres and that since April 2002 the Israelis had reoccupied every city and village in Palestine. He reiterated that this had made it impossible for his people to move about even just to visit family. Even ambulances found it hard to pass through checkpoints. Even schools were not functioning, properly as Israeli tanks blocked off many school entrances.

The Palestinians accepted the fact that Israel exists and only want to live side by side with them; this is illustrated in the Oslo Agreement. The Palestinians therefore wanted to stop the bloodshed. His concern was, however, that with the support of the United States and the European Union, Israel was more concerned about war and its own safety rather that peace with the Palestinians.

Discussion
Mr A Mokoena (ANC) wanted to know how the Palestinian Members of Parliament were informed that they could not come to South Africa.

Mr Qarioti replied they were stopped at the border posts.

Mr J Seremane (DP) asked whether there were inter-faith movements which were mobilising people, as had happened in South Africa. He also wanted to know what South Africa could do to help.

Mr Qarioti responded by saying that the Palestinians respected South Africa and that they desired what South Africa has and saw South Africa as their friends.

Ms F Mohamed (ANC) inquired about civil society in Palestine and how it operated. She also wanted to know whether there was any kind of interaction between South African and Palestinian civil society.

Mr Qarioti replied there had been visits by previous delegations and these had interacted with civil society. Hamas and Jihad differed from the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) and they hoped that they could all fight together against the occupation of Palestine. They feared that if the war with Iraq went ahead, the focus would be there and then the Israelis would be able to carry out more massacres.

Ms F Hajaij (ANC) asked what the prospects were for a negotiated peace and what the PLO could do to ensure this.

Mr Qarioti said that Mr Sharon does not want peace but would rather want the Palestinians to surrender; Mr Sharon wants more territory. He said that the occupation could not continue, but they would have to stay in the struggle.

Ms S Rajbally (Minority Front) pointed out that the problem was largely about land and wanted to know what top level discussions was going on about this.

Mr Qarioti said that as a people they were being ignored; the Jews thought they were number one and did not think anything of anyone else.

Mr M Ramgobin (ANC) said he hoped the mindsets of people would change so that they did not see the struggle as a religious one. There were even some hostile Islamic states surrounding Palestine. Jihad and Hamas actions were unfortunately affecting the PLO negatively. He also called on the Chairperson to release a press statement about the Palestinian members of Parliament who were not allowed to come to South Africa.

The Chairperson thanked the delegation for their visit and then adjourned the meeting.