South Africa echoes the sentiments of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan that the commando raid is a violation of the letter and spirit of cessation of hostilities as laid out in Security Council Resolution 1701.

The government said in its statement that such actions subtract rather than add to the momentum created by the international community to bring about a lasting solution to the situation in the Middle East.

In this regard, it said, the government welcomed efforts by the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to consult with both the Israeli authorities and Lebanon with a view to ensuring full compliance with Resolution 1701 and to avoid actions that may lead to an escalation of violence and make it more difficult for peace to hold.

The South African government also urged the international community to act swiftly in deploying the UN peacekeeping force to ensure compliance with the resolution.