By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
International Relations and Cooperations Minister Naledi Pandor has accused Israeli intelligence of trying to intimidate her after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) recently ruled that it was “plausible” that Israel’s actions could amount to genocidal acts and ordered it to prevent such harm to Palestinians in Gaza.
South Africa’s application against Israel argued that it is violating the UN Convention on Genocide in its war against Hamas in Gaza.
Speaking on the sidelines of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address on Thursday, Pandor said she was concerned about the welfare of her family.
“I spoke to Minister Bheki Cele because of various messages I was getting, and I felt that it would be better if we had extra security. But what I’m more concerned about is my family because in some of the social media messages, my children are mentioned and so on, but this is par for the course.
“The Israeli agents, the intelligence services, it’s how they behave, and they seek to intimidate you, so we must not be intimidated. There is a cause that is underway,” said Pandor.
Pandor said South Africa will not back down from fighting for the rights of the Palestinian people.
“The people of the world and Palestine did not draw back when the apartheid state was at its worst. They stood with the liberation movement. So we can’t stand back now. We must be with them.
“And I think one of the things we must not allow is a failure of courage.
“It’s extremely important that we continue with this. We talked to the South African people; they understand why it is we have taken up this moral cause,” said Pandor.
Meanwhile Ramaphosa has once again used his public platform to reiterate his call for a two-State solution between Israel and Palestine and condemn the killing of civilians.
“Guided by the fundamental principle of human rights and freedom, Palestinian cause to prevent further deaths and destruction in Gaza, “Ramaphosa said.
The country’s first citizen also took the time to welcome the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Israel must take all measures within its power to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians.
South Africa approached the top UN court last year to request to order Israel to halt its military operations in Gaza, and also to ask the court to find the Israeli government guilty of committing acts of genocide.
The ICJ ruling delivered last month found that it was “plausible” that Israel committed acts which violated the Genocide Convention.
The ruling issued by the ICJ ordered six provisional measures, including for Israel to refrain from acts under the Genocide Convention, prevent and punish the direct and public incitement to genocide, and take immediate and effective measures to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza.
“We condemn the killing of civilians on all sides and call on all parties involved in the conflict to commit to a peace process that will deliver a two-state solution.
“Today, every South African can hold their heads high, confident that we have assumed our rightful place on the world stage, “Ramaphosa said.
South Africa will host the G20 summit in 2025. Pandor said the country will look towards using its term as chair to ensure that issues of development are on the table and that the focus from narrow economic interests would return to broader developmental issues, including the multilateral system of the world.