International relations minister softens approach to Israel

NICOLA MILTZ

The minister was responding to questions during a debate following her budget vote speech in the National Assembly last Thursday.

During her lengthy speech and response, she made no mention of the downgrading of the South African Embassy in Tel Aviv. There was also no mention of the appointment of a new South African ambassador for Tel Aviv.

Pandor displayed a more even-handed diplomacy than her predecessor, according to insiders, giving relatively equal attention to other global humanitarian conflicts, and not singling out Israel.

Political analysts and insiders told the SA Jewish Report the minister’s references to the Middle East conflict appeared more balanced, devoid of the usual anti-Israel bitterness. Notably, she also said it was “absolutely imperative” that when it came to the Middle East, discussion also took place on Yemen and Syria.

“On the Middle East, we take sides with the oppressed,” she said. “We don’t reject Israel when it wishes to discuss a genuine settlement.”

She said that the two-state solution remained the objective of all members of the United Nations, but “we are concerned at the lack of movement, at the lack of freedom”.

However, her comments signalled a willingness on the part of the government to remain engaged.

“When there are genuine steps for peace, we are ready to consider again, but it cannot be that we act as though matters are normal when there exists a condition where a people enjoy no rights whatsoever. We cannot attach purely to the theoretical, we must signal that we are concerned. That does not mean we give up, it means we are ready to engage in discourse leading to a solution.”

Responding to another question, she said South Africa “must stand shoulder to shoulder” with the Palestinians. However, she made it clear that the government would “be there with the people of Israel and its government once it is ready to recognise that the two-state solution must be brought into reality”.

“It should be understood what our intentions are. We would be most happy when we discuss the Middle East that we talk about Syria, we talk about the humanitarian disaster in Yemen, we talk about all those who suffer. We mustn’t neglect to mention other actors in that region that are exacerbating the negative conditions of humanity. [It’s] absolutely imperative that we do that.”

Steven Gruzd, an analyst at the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), said the minister remained consistent with longstanding themes in South African foreign policy. However, he said, her speech “adopted a different, more measured tone” to some of her previous utterances on the Middle East.

“It contains the usual support of the Palestinians, but lacks vitriol against Israel – even though she still blames Israel for the stalemate in peace negotiations,” Gruzd said.

Gruzd pointed out that Pandor reiterated support for the two-state solution, “even though it is moribund at present” in the Middle East.

“Interestingly, she says that other problems in the Middle East must be discussed, including Yemen and Syria. Is this a real move away from obsession with Israel? Time will tell.”

In essence, Gruzd said her speech showed a slight softening in approach “but in style, not substance”.

The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) remains cautiously optimistic. National Director Wendy Kahn said she was encouraged by the minister’s “balanced and professional approach”.

“While I differ with her holding Israel solely accountable for failure to make meaningful progress towards realising a two-state solution to the conflict, I welcome her more measured remarks,” Kahn said.

She also welcomed Pandor’s reiteration of South Africa’s commitment to a two-state solution, and “its readiness to re-engage with Israel when it believes the time is right”.

Also reassuring was the minister’s reference to issues on our continent and globally, she said, pointing out that her remarks did not single out the Israeli-Palestinian issue.

Kahn said the minister’s comments about Sudan were heartening. “As South Africa we stand ready to assist where we can. Our experience in conflict resolution and in drafting a progressive constitution, make us a partner genuinely able to resolve complex national problems,” Pandor said.

“I’m hopeful that the same stance will be applied with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian situation,” Kahn said.

The minister gave Palestine similar attention to other conflict-ridden countries.

“The world has improved vastly from the world in which racial domination could thrive, yet Palestine is still occupied and not free, South Sudan has internal conflict, Western Sahara is still occupied and not free, Cuba remains blockaded, and extremism and terrorism destabilise the world. Africa, too, continues to have many development challenges.”

Pandor said South Africa would affirm trade and strategic partnerships with the United States, while also working to “support measures for peace in South Sudan, freedom and justice for the people of Sahrawi, and freedom, security and democracy for the people of Palestine. We will also continue to strive for the end of the unilateral economic blockade against Cuba, and continue to strengthen our collaboration.”

Political analyst and author, Ralph Mathekga, told the SA Jewish Report that Pandor took a measured yet firm approach without being “attention seeking”.

“She demands commitment to do things differently, and progress in attaining a two-state arrangement,” he said.

Darren Bergman, the Democratic Alliance shadow minister of international relations and cooperation, said, “Minister Pandor is a highly capable and intelligent minister, probably with the most experience in cabinet. We hope this will lead her to seek peace on both sides, and be responsible when engaging in highly emotive disputes.”

However, he cautioned that it was still the “honeymoon period”.