Portrait of Jacob Zuma
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Jacob Zuma on Palestine

Strong Palestine advocate (strong)

TL;DR

Jacob Zuma consistently affirmed South Africa's solidarity with the Palestinian people and their quest for self-determination.

Key Points

  • He supported the intention of the Palestinian Authority to seek full United Nations membership as a sovereign State in September 2011.

  • In June 2014, he congratulated parties on forming a government of national consensus, viewing it as advancing Palestinian national reconciliation.

  • During a speech in November 2015, he advocated for a two-state solution based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital.

Summary

Jacob Zuma, during his tenure as President and as a leader of the African National Congress (ANC), maintained a firm and vocal stance of solidarity with the Palestinian cause. His core position has been one of unwavering support for the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, often drawing parallels between the struggle against apartheid in South Africa and the situation in the Palestinian territories. A key expression of this stance included discouraging travel to Israel for any reason not explicitly related to fostering peace in the region, as stated during an ANC anniversary celebration. He also reiterated support for international efforts aimed at establishing a viable Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The context of his position is rooted in the historical relationship between the ANC and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which dates back to the anti-apartheid struggle. This relationship informed official government policy, which recognized the State of Palestine in 1995 and supported its bid for full UN membership, as stated before the UN General Assembly in 2011. Furthermore, Zuma's government actively encouraged reconciliation among Palestinian factions, welcoming the formation of a government of national consensus to end the division between the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Key Quotes

“It is a decisive step towards achieving lasting peace, economic cooperation and prosperity for the millions of people in the Middle East, and urge that it be viewed favourable,”

Frequently Asked Questions

Jacob Zuma held a consistently positive and supportive position regarding the Palestinian people and their aspiration for self-determination. He frequently framed the issue within the context of South Africa's own anti-apartheid struggle. His government actively sought to support Palestinian national unity and progress towards statehood.

As president, he reaffirmed South Africa's friendship with the Palestinian people during meetings with their leadership. He also publicly stated that South Africa discouraged travel to Israel unless it was for peace-fostering reasons. Furthermore, he supported international efforts for a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders.

Yes, Jacob Zuma's public statements strongly aligned with the African National Congress's long-standing official policy of supporting the Palestinian cause. This alignment manifested in both his presidential capacity and within the party structure, such as in encouraging reconciliation efforts between Fatah and Hamas.