JOHANNESBURG, June 6 (Xinhuanet) -- The South African government said on Monday that gains made in the Middle East peace process are being negated by an expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

    "We hope reason will prevail and all new settlements will be stopped," deputy foreign minister Aziz Pahad told reporters in Pretoria after meeting his Palestinian counterpart Abdullah Abdullah.

    "The withdrawal from Gaza is important but it has to be done incooperation with the Palestinian Authority and must be in line with the roadmap," Pahad said.

    Pahad reiterated South Africa's support for a two-state solution to the conflict, adding, "there can be no future for Israel if there is no acceptance that a Palestinian state has to come into being."

    He said recent peace talks at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt yielded hope. "But the positive aspects get negated if at the same time settlements in the West Bank are increased."

    Pahad called for "genuine commitment" to putting in place agreements reached, and to ensuring that "nothing is done unilaterally".

    Abdullah said the conflict could only be ended by the creation of a viable, sovereign Palestinian state, existing side-by-side and in peace with Israel. The boundaries should be the same as those prior to the 1967 war in which Israel captured Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

    This would require Israel's "unilateral withdrawal" from Gaza being part and parcel of the roadmap, followed by similar steps inthe West Bank.

    Abdullah stressed the withdrawals had to be "total and complete."

    He is to meet political parties, civil society representatives and members of the government during his week-long visit.

    Pahad said South Africa looked forward to a meeting "in the near future" between President Thabo Mbeki and Abbas. Enditem