Ex-S. African leader pessimistic about 2-state solution

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) Former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe has said Israeli’s continued construction of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories rendered the two-state solution unworkable.

Speaking at the launch of the Israeli Apartheid Week in Johannesburg Sunday, Motlanthe said he supported the possibility of a democratic one-state system.

“The formation of a new political identity within a one-state solution will no doubt be a difficult process that requires compromises on all sides,” he said in his address.

The Israeli Apartheid Week is an "international series of events that seeks to raise awareness of Israel’s settler-colonial project and apartheid system over the Palestinian people".

The former South African leader said the two-state solution has been difficult to achieve for many years because of several pressing issues and different demands from the two sides.

“There is a lack of consensus over borders between the two countries, particularly given new barriers of settlement expansions that have rendered Palestine smaller in size,” he said.

He further said Israel’s refusal of letting Palestinian refugees return back to their homeland under its right of return policy renders the two-state solution unfeasible.

Motlanthe who served as president between September 2008 and May 2009, following the resignation of President Thabo Mbeki, said while those against the creation of the one-state solution urge that it will lead to inevitable violence, he dismisses the argument saying if it is the people’s will then a conflict can be avoided.

“We must not forget that such violence was also predicted in South Africa [after end of minority rule] but was largely avoided because of sheer human will and brave leadership," he added.

He said due to the ongoing illegal occupation of the west bank there is now already a de-facto or unilateral one state solution on one side.

The two-state solution refers to the establishment of an independent Palestine and Israel based on 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as a shared capital.