Mandela urges Israel to withdraw from occupied Arab lands
Former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela on Tuesday discussed during his meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy in occupied Palestine the Middle East peace process on various tracks and the efforts made to revive it, Israel Radio reported.
In a joint press conference with Levy, Mandela said that peace will not be achieved in the Middle East without a full Israeli withdrawal from "the Syrian Golan Heights and other occupied Arab territories."
Mandela continued, "Any country that respects itself cannot speak about peace with Israel so long as Israel continues occupying its land."
He said, "Every word about peace remains empty so long as Israel persists in occupying Arab lands," adding that Israel should make a decisive announcement showing that the basis for achieving peace talks is "through full withdrawal from the occupied Arab territories."
He concluded: "Then, there will be no problem."
