NA Debate on "Violence In Palestine And Prospects Of The Future Peace Process In The Middle East Region" 02/11/2000, by Mosibudi Mangena, (AZAPO)

Madam Speaker

Television footage of well armed Israeli soldiers shooting at civilians and processions of grieving Palestinians carrying bodies of their babies and teenagers to the graveyards, are just replays of our own bitter history. We see in that footage our own children being killed in Soweto, Langa, Kwa-Mashu and elsewhere by police and soldiers simply because they are a wrong colour.

Just the other day this house debated a noble motion remembering and condemning atrocities committed against the Jewish people by the Nazis. What we see now is a classical case of victims of persecution turning into villains.

The state of Israel stands condemned before the whole world of using excessive, disproportionate and brutal force to deal with unrest by people of another religion. Stone throwing youths do not deserve a bullet through the head. Little babies do not have to die by the bullet simply because their older brothers are throwing stones. We have seen Israel security forces dealing with protests by Jews in a much more humane manner. Why can’t they employ those same methods to control angry Palestinian youth?

Madam Speaker, as things stand at the moment, Jews and Palestinians are condemned to live together in one territory. For decades they have argued and fought one another, killed one another into exile. The peace process that the two sides embarked upon in order to end this circle of violence and death now seems terminally ill.

Israel must stop the brutal killings of unarmed Palestinians and the two sides must work out a lasting mode of o-existence in that territory that is just, equitable, peaceful and lasting.

Mosibudi Mangena

02/11/2000