Ref: 27/2009

Date: 30 June 2009

PCHR Receives Deputy Ambassador of South Africa to Israel

On Tuesday morning, 30 June 2009, Mr. Raji Sourani, Director of the Palestinian Centre of Human Rights (PCHR), received  the Counselor of Commercial and Political Affairs and Deputy Ambassador of South Africa to Israel, Elizabeth Smith, accompanied by Caragan Jofender, Second Secretary in the embassy; Mousa Meithambi, Third Secretary in the embassy; and Royce Kuzwayo, Deputy Representative of South Africa to the Palestinian National Authority. The meeting was held in PCHR’s main office in Gaza City.

During the meeting, Sourani briefed the visitors on developments related to the human rights situation in the Gaza Strip, tackling the unprecedented deterioration of economic, social, and political rights of the civilian population consequent to Israeli human rights violations and collective punishment, focusing on the siege, which not only negatively impact living conditions, but also hinders the process of reconstruction in the Gaza Strip.

Sourani, also highlighted the consequences of the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, emphasizing that 5 months after the offensive, the extensive destruction is still apparent all over the Gaza Strip. He held the international community responsible for the continuous suffering of Palestinian civilians who have been made homeless by Israeli Occupation Forces.

In conclusion, Sourani highly appreciated the strong relations between PCHR and the South African Mission, praising the South African experience of struggle over dozens of years against the apartheid regime stressing that this experience constitutes a pattern to be followed.