The African National Congress International relations sub-committee says its policies that include supporting the self-determination of Palestine and Western Sahara and leaving the International Criminal Court haven’t changed, despite President Jacob Zuma’s meeting with the King of Morocco.
The committee met ahead of the December National Conference to review policies to be discussed at the conference.
The committee was divided on whether South Africa should downgrade its diplomatic relations with Israel, and these issues was referred to conference for final decision, and will now take into account the US decision on Wednesday to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
The ANC NEC sub-committee on international relations says its policy is advised by the fact that South Africa was born from revolutionary struggle and therefore strives for peaceful co-existence and that engagement must emulate a better and peaceful world.
Israel captured Jerusalem in 1967 and later declared the city its capital, and Palestine regards Jerusalem as the capital of its future state.
In the face of the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, many believe the US decision threatens to collapse the peace talks between the two nations.
The ANC says it is committed to a two-state solution, but the sub-committee says it could not unanimously agree on a downgrade of relations with Israel.
Committee member Dipuo Duba says, “There were two views there, the first one is that we retain the status quo, and the other one was that we downgrade , and then it was captured as such as a resolution to say the conference will decide when we go there in two weeks.”
The most interest from journalists at the media briefing came from the Israel – Palestine conflict, especially the recent meeting between the sub-committee and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzachi Hanegbi. The ANC says its policy has not shifted.
Committee member Miriam Saohatse says, “We made it clear that our position in relation to the Palestinian people stands, we support the self-determination of the people of Palestine and the two state solution.”
Duba further says, “We are still committed to self-determination for the Palestinians and our course will never change.”
The other issue discussed is the ANC’s position on Morocco which currently occupies parts of Western Sahara.
The conflict between the two nations is longest on the continent and pre-occupies the continent’s many gatherings including the Pan African Parliament.
Here too the ANC says it differed with the AU when it voted to re-admit Morocco, and its position is unchanged, despite President Jacob Zuma meeting the King of Morocco.
The ANC says it supports the decision of the government to leave the International Criminal Court, that debate had been happening before the Omar Al Bashir saga, and that it supports ratification of the Malabo protocol to pave the way for the establishment of an African Court.
The ANC also supports the peaceful transition in Zimbabwe.
