Ramallah, February 15,2007 (Wafa) - South Africa has made a call in the UN Security Council, to the United States and the European Union, to lift their economic sanctions against the Palestinian National Authority.

South African Representative Office in the West Bank city of Ramallah, said in a press release today, that this call was when the Security Council was deliberating on how to revive the peace process in the Middle East and pursue the quest for a durable two-state solution to the crisis.

South Africa argued that economic sanctions would not help in achieving peace in the volatile Middle East region.

"We urge the international community to ease its financial blockade against the Palestinian Authority, particularly we urge Israel to release all Palestinian tax revenues," said South Africa's Ambassador to the United Nations, Dumisani Kumalo.

"These funds are urgently required to alleviate their socio-economic hardships, including the deteriorating Palestinian institutions," added Ambassador Kumalo..

S.A (14:00 P) , (12:00 GMT)