South Africa expels Israeli envoy, declares them persona non grata

South Africa Expels Israeli Envoy Amid Diplomatic Row

The South African government has announced that it is expelling Ariel Seidman, the charge d’affaires at the Israeli embassy, due to what it described as “unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms”. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation gave Seidman 72 hours to leave the country after declaring him persona non grata.

The move comes amid heightened tensions between South Africa and Israel over Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip. According to the South African government, Seidman had launched “insulting attacks” against President Cyril Ramaphosa on social media, as well as failed to inform the ministry of purported visits by senior Israeli officials.

In response, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has declared Shaun Edward Byneveldt, South Africa’s ambassador to the State of Palestine, persona non grata and given him 72 hours to leave the country. The Israeli government stated that additional steps would be considered in due course.

The expulsion of Seidman and the declaration of Byneveldt as persona non grata are part of a tit-for-tat diplomatic move between the two countries. South Africa had filed a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in December 2023, accusing Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip.

The situation has been further complicated by allegations that Israel maintains a system of apartheid in its treatment of Palestinians. The United Nations’ human rights chief has described this as “a particularly severe form of racial discrimination and segregation”.

South African activists have also accused Israel of violating international law, including UN resolutions and court decisions. The Economic Freedom Fighters opposition party welcomed the government’s decision to declare Seidman persona non grata, stating that it was a necessary step against what they described as an “apartheid state”.

Source: Al Jazeera