SA is likely to issue Israel’s ambassador, Eliav Belotserkovsky, with a démarche — a formal diplomatic protest note — over his remarks about the war in Gaza, which have angered the government and contradicted its official position.
International relations & co-operation minister Naledi Pandor has likened Belotserkovsky’s unspecified remarks to those of US ambassador Reuben Brigety, who caused a storm after accusing SA of supplying Russia with weapons, a claim that was denied and disproved by an internal investigation.
“We felt it important to call the ambassador in and really he should desist from making the kind of statements that he is making without having any discussion with senior members of the government of SA,” Pandor said on Monday without going into detail about the remarks.
“There seems to be a strange practice among some ambassadors in SA that they can just say what they like ...
“I don’t know if it’s because we are an African country and they disrespect us but it’s something we should not tolerate.”
Belotserkovsky, a regular commentator in SA media, including this newspaper where he penned an opinion last week, has defended Israel’s conduct in Gaza, saying its war is not with the population but with Hamas, which he describes as a terrorist organisation.
This differs from the position that SA has taken on the matter as it has called for an immediate ceasefire and the opening of a humanitarian corridor.
In protest over the conflict, which it describes as a genocide against the Palestinians, SA recalled its diplomats from Tel Aviv. It has also called for the opening of a corridor to provide food, medical supplies and fuel to Gaza, where, according to health authorities there, more than 9,500 people have been killed or injured by Israeli air strikes and artillery fire.
SA, home to the largest Jewish community in Sub-Saharan Africa, has also accused Israel of violating international law and UN resolutions with impunity, and of repeating the atrocities of apartheid.
“Cabinet is disappointed by the refusal of the Israeli government to respect international law and UN resolutions with impunity,” said Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, minister in the presidency. “Another holocaust in the history of humankind cannot be acceptable, and the SA government has decided to withdraw all its diplomats in Tel Aviv for consultation.”
Israel has rejected accusations of war crimes and of blocking vital supplies and services to Gaza.
Hamas fired rockets and raided Israeli towns, killing about 1,400 and seizing more than 240 hostages on October 7.
The withdrawal of SA’s diplomats is a symbolic gesture of solidarity with the Palestinian cause and reflects its historical stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as its current foreign policy priorities.
However, the decision risks damaging the economic and diplomatic ties between SA and Israel, which have been strained in recent years due to political disagreements.
Ntshavheni said the cabinet noted the “continued disparaging remarks of the Israeli ambassador to SA about those who are opposing the atrocities and the genocide of the Israeli government.
“The conduct and remarks of that ambassador are unacceptable. He is a guest in our country, he should conduct himself as a guest. He has no right to undermine South Africans and the leadership of SA. We are not threatened by him.”
On the recall of SA’s diplomats, she said: “That recall for consultation is a serious signal that SA takes a dim view on the situation permeating that part of the world.”
Israel has been accused of war crimes and of allegedly cutting off water and food supplies and electricity, and blocking off humanitarian corridors.
On October 7, Palestinian militant group Hamas stormed into Israeli towns during a major Jewish holiday. Israel responded with multiple strikes and operations in Gaza. This has led to thousands of people being killed and “more than 1-million have been displaced, as parts of Gaza have been reduced to rubble”, according to the UN.
The government has faced increasing calls from pro-Palestinian groups and opposition parties to expel Belotserkovsky from SA. The ANC has accused the Israeli embassy of arrogance and of refusing to engage on its war in the Palestinian territory.
National vice-chair of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies Karen Milner has asked for a meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa to clarify their position.
“It is a tremendous disservice to South Africans of all faiths to recall the members of the SA embassy in Israel. It is especially unfortunate at this time when SA should be inquiring about any South Africans who need assistance and certainly should be concerned about South African citizens who may be held hostage,” she told Business Day.
The department “is abandoning SA citizens at a dangerous time in the Middle East”.
Update: November 6 2023
This article has been updated with new information.
