South Africa has pulled its staff out of Israel amid speculation that the country is planning to end its diplomatic ties with Tel Aviv.
Meanwhile, the government has slammed the conduct of Israeli Ambassador Eliav Belotsercovsky, whom they accuse of criticising South Africa’s position in the Israeli war against Hamas instead of engaging with the government about its position.
The South African government has fallen short of expelling Israel’s ambassador, but Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Nthsavheni said “he is a guest in our country and must conduct himself as a guest.”
“Cabinet has instructed Dirco to take necessary measures within the diplomatic challenges and protocols to deal with the conduct of the ambassador of Israel to South Africa.
“We leave it to Dirco to decide what will be done with the ambassador.”
On Monday the government also decided to withdraw its diplomats from Israel, while it considers whether South Africa will continue to have an embassy in Tel Aviv.
“Another holocaust in the history of humankind is unacceptable and the South African government has decided to withdraw all its diplomats in Tel Aviv for consultation,” said Nthsavheni.
Ntshavheni said South Africa’s position on the Middle East crisis was unchanged: it supports the people of Palestine’s right to self determination, supports the two-state solution to the conflict and calls for the immediate end to the war.
“Israel is threatening the stability of the global system with its conduct against the Palestinian people. The US’s support of Israel is enabling Israel to threaten the global system of multilateralism and good governance that makes a peaceful global order.”
Israel has rejected calls for a ceasefire or a “pause” in the ongoing bombardment of Hamas in Palestine despite the death toll reaching over 9,500.
Meanwhile, International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, hosted her Ukrainian counterpart, minister Dmytro Kubela, and said South Africa’s attention on the Russia-Ukraine war has not shifted.
“We are in discussion with our own leader, President Cyril Ramaphosa, to look at how we can have a greater impetus to the Africa Peace Initiative to address our concerns with respect to this war.”
