'Lasting peace in Middle East possible'

With US President Joe Biden hard at work to sustain backing for his proposed Gaza ceasefire plan from the UN Security Council, his special envoy for the Holocaust was yesterday confident about peace in the war-torn Middle East.

- Brian Sokutu

Ellen Germain, who is visiting SA, said she was "always hopeful that a lasting peace will be achieved in the Middle East".

At the core of the Biden solution is a three-stage deal - the release of remaining hostages in return for Israel accepting steps towards a permanent ceasefire and the eventual withdrawal of its forces from Gaza.

Reflecting on the parallels between South Africa under apartheid and the Holocaust, Germain said: "Studying the Holocaust and its history, shows us that genocide is a process - not something that just happens.