Cyril Ramaphosa: Israel-Palestine Conflict Brings Back Painful Memories
- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has shared his thoughts on the ongoing violence in the Middle East between Palestine and Israel
- Speaking through his weekly letter, Ramaphosa says South Africans are well aware that violence can only be solved through dialogue
- Ramaphosa says it’s painful to see children and families being evicted from their homes and has called for peace in Israel and Palestine
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In his weekly letter, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has lamented the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, saying it brings back sad memories.
As the letter was released on Monday, the president spoke out on the escalating situation between Israel and Palestine.
Ramaphosa said South Africans know too well that intractable conflicts can only be solved through peaceful negotiation. He said, as quoted by The South African:
“It also demonstrates that unless the root causes of a conflict are addressed, in this case, the illegal occupation by Israel of Palestinian land and the denial of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, there will never be peace.”
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The African National Congress leader said the Israeli court’s ruling to evict a number of families could be the reason behind the violence and unrest. He added:
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“The sight of men, women, and children being evicted from the homes their families have lived in for generations brings back painful collective and personal memories for the majority of South Africans – of forced removals and land dispossession.
“It was a pain and humiliation faced by my own family, and by many South African families. My family was forcibly moved to different parts of the country on two occasions. Being forced from one’s home at gunpoint is a trauma not easily forgotten, and is carried across generations.”
On the other hand, the City Press reported that Ramaphosa said Israel’s actions are a violation of international law as he also called for peaceful negotiations. He added that since Israeli security forces attacked worshippers at Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem last week, the violence has also engulfed the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, Briefly News reported that Ramaphosa has renewed the salary freeze for his Cabinet members and other political office bearers.
This would be the second year in a row in which Ramaphosa has frozen salary increases for politicians.
Ramaphosa's salary will remain at R2.99 million and David Mabuza's will likewise stay at R2.85 million annually. Ministers' salaries will remain at R2.4 million and their deputies would take home R1.97 million.
The salary freezes come after the government continues to tighten the fiscal budget and in the wake of Covid-19 the government has tightened the public purse.
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Source: Briefly News
