In 1948 the apartheid regime was introduced and implemented in South Africa by the newly elected, white representative National Party (NP). In that same year the Jewish state of Israel was officially declared a sovereign state. During apartheid (1948-1994) the people of SA bore witness to harsh segregation, discrimination and disenfranchisement of its majority black population. Israel has repeatedly been accused of having similar characteristics. SA recognises a Palestinian State, condemns and criticises the actions towards Palestinian people and supports the notion of a ‘Two-state’ solution.