Israel has expelled South Africa’s senior diplomatic representative, Minister Shaun Edward Byneveldt, in retaliation for South Africa’s decision to declare Israel’s Chargé d’Affaires, Ariel Seidman, persona non grata.
The move comes after South Africa accused Seidman of violating diplomatic norms, including insulting President Cyril Ramaphosa on social media and failing to notify authorities about visits by senior Israeli officials. Israel has rejected these allegations, calling them “false attacks” and stating that the expulsion is a response to South Africa’s “unilateral, baseless step”.
Isreal-South Africa Diplomatic Fallout
The expulsion of Byneveldt is seen as a tit-for-tat move, escalating tensions between the two countries. South Africa had previously taken Israel to the International Court of Justice, accusing it of genocide in Gaza, which Israel has denied.
Relations between South Africa and Israel have been strained since South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. The two countries have had disagreements over Israel’s actions in Gaza, with South Africa being a vocal critic.
South Africa’s Stance
South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation has stated that Seidman’s actions were a “gross abuse of diplomatic privilege” and a “fundamental breach of the Vienna Convention”.
Israel’s foreign ministry has accused South Africa of working with Hamas and described the allegations as “blood libel”.
The diplomatic row between South Africa and Israel may have implications for their relationships with other countries, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
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