THERE needs to be more of a focus on agriculture in the Eastern Cape and young people need to go back to the land – this is the message from Tsolo’s man in Jerusalem.
The new South African ambassador to Israel, Sisa Ngombane, handed his credentials to Israeli president Shimon Peres at the beginning of this month.
Speaking from Jerusalem, Ngombane said young people in the Eastern Cape needed to realise urbanisation was not a solution.
“The Eastern Cape is very dear to us. It has produced many leaders, but we need to develop agriculture and people need to go back to the land,” he said.
Just how to make optimum use of land is something he hopes to learn more about while in his new post.
Israel has become a world leader with state-of-the-art technology in the fields of agriculture, Aids prevention and water purification.
With drip irrigation it has effectively turned a desert into a garden and through desalination has entirely solved a once acute water shortage – it now uses less clean water than it did 20 years ago.
“I hope to learn about these technologies here,” said Ngombane.
In the political sphere he said South Africa’s desire was for full rights for minorities in Israel and a peaceful settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.
Only a two-state solution would serve all interests, he said. There should be a reversion to the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as an international zone, except for East Jerusalem which should go to Palestine as its capital.
Ngombane said South Africa had not advocated sanctions or boycotts against Israel.
“We’ve had significant co-operation in the economy. The trade is there. It is one of our largest. We also have many families here – there are people going up and down all the time.”
The letter of credence handed to Peres by Ngombane said bilateral relations had the “ potential for great benefits for both countries”. Imports by Israel from South Africa in 2012 totalled 384.4-million , while Israel’s exports to South Africa were 95.6-million .
Ngombane said South Africa had a relationship with Israel dating back to the 1940s, one that both Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu believed should be upheld.
“They both visited Israel and felt we should play a role in trying to find peace,” he said.
Asked about South Africa’s position on the standoff between Israel and the Palestinians he said: “The question is, do we sit and voice unhappiness or do we get involved in sorting this situation out on the ground?
“So we are here to accompany Israel and say: ‘Talk to the Palestinians’.”
He said he was currently meeting all groups, including Hamas, and giving feedback to South Africa.
“We are talking to Hamas and saying to them the state of Israel exists and the reality is they are not going anywhere.
“I think this reality is starting to come through. ”
Hamas currently controls Gaza while Fatah is at the helm of the National Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.
The Islamist Hamas does not recognise that Israel has a right to exist, nor is it involved in any talks with the Israeli government.
The United States and countries in the European Union categorise it as a terrorist organisation.
Ngombane said the lesson learnt by South Africa during its liberation struggle was that leadership was what was necessary to get people to realise a solution could be found.
“The PAC wanted to drive whites into the sea.
“The ANC said ‘no, there is a middle road’.
“This applies to Israel too. In politics you realise there is a road to follow.”
Before being assigned to Israel Ngombane was deputy director- general for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation; high commissioner to Malaysia (2007 – 2010); ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1999 – 2007); ambassador to the Ivory Coast with accreditation to Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger; and chief representative of the ANC to the European Community and Belgium (1990 – 1994).