Taking sides on the ongoing Israel/Palestine conflict will lead to further escalation, Speaker tells delegates to the G20 Speakers Summit in India

13 October 2023

National Assembly (NA) Speaker, Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has urged Speakers of the G20 countries during the Ninth P20 Speakers Summit in India, not to take sides but intervene to stop the war between Israel and Palestine.

Addressing a pre-summit gathering of the 9th P20 Speakers’ Summit in New Delhi, Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula cautioned the nations against taking sides in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, as that would only further exacerbate the tragic situation that left many people including innocent women and children dead. She conveyed South Africa’s full support for the Two-State Solution, which will ensure that the States of both Israel and Palestine live side by side peacefully as sister countries. “There is no winner in the war situation as we all suffer losses and casualties. This conflict has sadly resulted in the loss of innocent lives from both sides, in particular women and children”, she said.

She said the conflict, which has been going on for more than 5 decades, should be understood in its historical context and addressed with a focus on saving human lives. “We note with deep sadness and pain the escalation of the conflict that is going on in that part of the world” has caused, she said.

The Speakers exchanged views on how best to enhance sustainable lifestyles globally and address excessive and unsustainable production and consumption patterns, that are major contributors to the degradation of the environment and the massive negative consequences of resultant natural disasters. She said the environment is a major source of life, and should not be compromised because of the expediency of economic accumulation and short-term development pursuits. She urged that general development and economic growth initiatives and drives must be equitable, inclusive, and sustainable so that current generations' advancement is not at the expense of future generations. (Speaker on Lifestyle for Environment: https://iono.fm/e/1369541)

She said Parliaments have a major duty to ensure that in executing their mandates of law-making, budget approvals, and executive oversight, they ensure that there is always global economic and financial stability, in line with goals 4 and 12 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She said the people’s hope is for Parliaments to serve as catalysts in finding sustainable solutions to global challenges including combating climate change.  

Together with the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Mr Amos Masondo, they are representing the South African Parliament as delegates to the 9th Summit of Speakers of the G20 countries, known as the P20 starting on 13 and 14 October 2023 in New Delhi, India.

She pointed out that the need and objective to pursue sustainable living and lifestyle environment cannot be achieved by governments and parliaments alone acting in isolation without the participation and involvement of communities and citizens. “In this regard, Governments have a huge obligation to bring along communities and citizens at large through consistent educational programs and effective awareness campaigns about the importance of living a lifestyle that would protect and safeguard our environment for sustainable living”, she emphasized.

She drew the delegates’ attention to the fact that whatever interventions are put forward in quest of a Lifestyle Environment will never make sense to the poorest of the poor who are in perpetual struggle to get food to survive if parliamentarians don’t make their lives better.

“We also need to partner with civil society organizations for vigorous educational and community awareness campaigns. In rural areas we need to work closely with community leaders such as traditional leaders, religious leaders, and formations to educate our communities about the importance of Lifestyle Environment”, she added.

Chairperson Masondo is scheduled to address the Summit on its first day.

Issued by Moloto Mothapo, Media Officer, Parliament, 13 October 2023