South Africa regrets escalating violence in Middle East

Johannesburg- South Africa (PANA) -- The South African government Thursday expressed "regret and outright condemnation" of the suicide bombing in Haifa and the Israeli retaliatory military operation in Gaza, both resulting in many deaths and injuries.
"The South African government is of the view that neither suicide bombings nor the repeated military incursions into Palestinian territories by the Israeli Defence Force serve the cause of either the Palestinians or the Israeli people," the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement in Pretoria.
It said: "On the contrary, only extremists on both sides can thrive from such tragic events, which not only lead to more sufferings for the ordinary people of Palestine and Israel, but will lead to a further polarisation and the perpetual postponement of hopes for peace, security and stability for all.
" The statement called on the incoming Israeli government to give "serious and urgent commitment to the Quartet Road Map with a view to creating a climate conducive for the immediate and unconditional resumption of negotiations with the Palestinians.
" It also expressed the hope that the planned meeting of Palestinian organisations scheduled for Cairo, Egypt would chart the way forward in determining a common approach in the struggle for a sovereign Palestinian state as well as addressing the critical question of a cease-fire.