The intervention of the South African delegation, describing events preceding formal negotiations and the way in which negotiations were carried out, had not been heard by either the Palestinians or the Israelis before and both parties were very receptive to the information given. The way in which channels of communication had been established years before negotiations became a public reality; the way in which the ANC had formulated a strategy for the pre-negotiation period in order to bring their own constituency and elements of the white minority community with them; and the handling of negotiations in a climate of political violence were specific areas in which the two visiting delegations paid particular interest and related back to their own situation.

Subsequent to the Presidential Retreat, members of the Palestinian and Israeli delegations continued their dialogue in meetings in a number of other countries such as France, Germany, Greece and Russia. Whilst at one level these meetings were public and received media coverage, much of it mentioning the positive initiative of Spier, they also served to provide the space for the two sides to further develop a ‘final status agreement’.

To further the objectives of the Presidential Peace Initiative, and in review of the outcomes of Spier I, a Task Team on the Middle East Conflict was established incorporating the Presidential Support Unit and DFA. A work plan, including the under mentioned projects, (building up to the concept of South Africa hosting ‘Spier II’), has been actively persued by the task team.

The Peace Retreat formalised one of the key foci of South African engagement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – that of strengthening the voices for peace and building a common vision for peace. Contacts at government and civil society level have taken place with those Palestinians and Israelis who believe, not necessarily from the same starting point, that Israel will not achieve peace and security whilst the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to national self determination remain unfulfilled.

The key strategic engagement of South Africa with the Middle East Conflict, as clearly shown by the Spier Presidential Peace Retreat of January 2002, remains the strengthening the "peace camps" in both Israel and Palestine; sharing the South African experience with a wide cross section of Israeli and Palestinian civil society and government; assisting the Palestinian reform process and supporting international peace efforts, in particular through the UN system.

Main activities of 2002

• A visit has taken place from the Israeli war resisters movement, ‘The Courage to Refuse’, hosted by the Centre for Conflict Resolution
• Retired Israeli General Ami Ayalon met with the President and Ministers who had participated in the Peace Retreat to inform them of his initiative to gain Israeli and Palestinian signatories to a call for a negotiated settlement. This document has now been published.
• The Deputy Minster led a delegation of DFA officials for consultations with UK and French counterparts. The role of South Africa was appreciated by both, in the context of acting as a ‘friend of the Quartet’. This visit made clear that these role players positively noted that South Africa has been able to maintain and extend contact with the Palestinian side. The kind of support South Africa can offer the Palestinian reform process, an issue ardently pursued by the EU, whilst maintaining contacts with the Israeli side, including the Israeli Government, as well as the role played by South Africa in the UN, were particularly noted.
• A study tour by senior officials from the Palestinian International Affairs Ministry, MOPIC, which is the lead Ministry in the Palestinian reform process, took place during the last week of October 2003. This visit will was funded by BTC, the Belgian Government development agency, with monies for assisting Palestinian reforms through capacity building. MOPIC were eager to explore in detail the process from negotiations through to the transformation of government structures that South Africa has undertaken. The delegation was very satisfied with the study tour and had plans to take their South African findings forward within the PA.
• DFA hosted a visit from Dr Mahdi Abdul Hadi from Palestine to South Africa at the end of November. This visit focused on interaction with South African academic institutions, ngos and media. Jewish and Muslim groups and others active and interested in the Middle East conflict welcomed this visit. It served to consolidate ties between government and civil society on this issue. Dr Abdul Hadi was informative and gave a constructive message for solidarity within the South African context. A similar visit from Israeli academics is being considered.

• A small group visited Israel and Palestine in October 2002 led by Ebrahim Ebrahim and including Rolf Meyer in order to expose the South African negotiating process to broaden the scope of Israelis and Palestinians exposed to the South African experience. This visit was not a public event but attempted to meet with identified forces on both sides that are not, at present, in the orbit of the ‘peace camps’.
• The annual International Day of Solidarity with Palestine event was marked on 11^th December in Pretoria, organised jointly by DFA, the Palestinian Embassy and the UN office in Pretoria.

• DFA and PSU officials participated a Wilton Park Conference in England on the Middle East conflict at which the role of South Africa in hosting the Peace Retreat and follow up activities was noted as one of the most positive international interventions.

• The Palestinian Constitutional Committee, tasked with drafting a Palestinian Constitution, have for some time expressed a wish to visit South Africa to study our experience of constitution making, the role of the Constitution in the negotiation process and the mechanisms developed to safeguard and uphold the values of the constitution. In this regard Deputy Minister Pahad invited Dr Nabeel Sha’ath, Minister of Planning and International Co-operation to lead a delegation of eight members of the Constitutional Committee of Palestine to visit South Africa from 3 to 7 March 2003. The delegation met with a number of Ministers, key role players, Parliamentarians and Academics.
• The Palestinian office of the UN Human Rights Commission funded a study tour for Palestinian PLC members to South Africa to investigate South African human rights legislation and implementation. The delegation visited South Africa from 27 to 31 January 2003. The project was more relevant than ever based on the enhanced role of the PLC in the context of political reform and democratisation in Palestine. The focus of the study tour was human rights and the monitoring thereof. Contact was established with the South African Human Rights Commission and the Office of the United Nation High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide the PLC delegation with a Two-day programme on the institutions and their functions. A visit to Parliament, with the focus on human rights was also included in the delegation's program.
• Work is now being done to extend contacts beyond the current scope of the peace camps and to engage with what may be termed ‘extremists’ on both sides of the conflict such as the IDF, armed Palestinian groupings and various political parties on both sides that are presently less convinced of the possibility for a negotiated settlement.
• An Israeli security and intelligence group, comprising high level former Generals of the Israeli Defence Force, intelligence officials and academics visited South Africa from 14 to 17 February 2003. The delegation interacted with South African former and present counterparts. The aims of the visit were to a) get the group to carry key messages back to their services b) enhance South Africa’s strategic access to this vital constituency and c) assist in developing alternative concepts and frameworks around security issues in the region.

As Chair of the METT, the Deputy Minister agreed to the following work plan. The details are to be finalized with the Deputy Minister upon presentation of final project proposals respectively.

• Visit to Israel and Palestine;
• Ministerial visits to Israel (we must endeavor to secure a ministerial level visit to SA before we embark on this project);
• Proceed to conclude non-security related agreements;
• Call a meeting of all the Spier Ministers to present and discuss further programme of action, give feedback to Ministers, etc.;
• Working level visit by critical members of the Task Team, to prepare the ground for the Minister’s visit to Israel and Palestine, as well as to enhance the work and effectiveness of the Task Team in giving effect to projects (contact building, etc.).
• Likud visit to be followed by a Shinui visit ( alternatively it could be a Portfolio Committee visit, which would serve the same purpose but offer a more mixed group of real decision-makers). Senior Likud members will visit South Africa to learn from our experience and to explore issues related to international and regional security. The precise composition of the group is currently being determined.
• Geneva Accord visit;
• Parliamentary exchange visit between South African and Israeli Parliamentarians. In this regard we should endeavor to invite key members of Israeli Parliamentary Portfolio Committees to visit South Africa;
• A visit by various factions of the Palestinian leadership.
• Follow-up to Palestinian Constitutional visit;
• With regard to the above, elements of the Task Team will go to the Middle East to assist with these projects.

APPENDIX ONE

In consultation with key role-players involved in the Middle East peace process, President Thabo Mbeki hosted a Presidential Retreat at the Spier Hotel and Conference Centre near Stellenbosch from 9-11 January 2002. The Retreat was attended by senior participants from Palestine, led by former Minister Saeb Erekat and Minister Zaid Abu Ziad, and from Israel led by former Justice Minister Yossi Beilin and Speaker of the Knesset Avraham Burg. Several current and former South African Cabinet Ministers attended and participated as well.

* To support the ongoing initiatives towards the creation of a favourable environment to restart peace negotiations;

* Share the South African experience in negotiations, peacemaking and transition to democracy; and

* Support the strengthening of the peace camps in Palestine and Israel as well as the general dynamic towards peace.

The Retreat was a supportive initiative, bringing the participants together in an informal environment conducive to sharing the experiences and exploring creatively how to move the Middle East peace process forward.

We envisage a new era of relations between Israel and Palestine based on mutual interests, respect recognition, security and good neighborly relations.

The delegations are committed to:

1. Building a shared vision for peace and the future relations between the two people in time of peace.
2. Preserving and developing prior achievements in particular those made in Camp-David, subsequent negotiations, the Clinton plan and Taba.
3. Conducting joint action to strengthen the peace constituencies in both communities.
4. Strengthening consultation, coordination, and cooperation in response to unfolding events.
5. Continue to study the lessons of the South African experience and ways in which it may help advance the peace process.
6. The three parties are committed to continuing their efforts and will announce in the near future steps to be taken to enhance this process.

The participants of the Spier meeting, welcome the initiative taken by President Mbeki and would appreciate continued South African efforts in seeking ways to help the parties in their quest for peace in the Middle East.