South Africa explains expulsion of Israeli envoy

Pretoria and West Jerusalem last week engaged in tit-for-tat moves against senior diplomats, accusing each other of hostile conduct

South Africa’s decision to expel Israeli diplomat Ariel Seidman followed failed attempts to engage West Jerusalem over various concerns, including actions that undermine Pretoria’s sovereignty, an official has said.

On Friday, Seidman, Israel’s charge d’affaires in Pretoria, was given 72 hours to leave South Africa after being declared persona non grata. Pretoria’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) cited breaches of diplomatic norms and “insulting attacks” on South African President Cyril Ramaphosa by the Israeli Embassy on social media as justification for the measure.

“This decisive measure follows a series of unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms and practice which pose a direct challenge to South Africa’s sovereignty. These violations include… a deliberate failure to inform DIRCO of purported visits by senior Israeli officials,” the department said.

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In a separate statement, DIRCO spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said the Israeli Embassy has over a series of months used the X platform to “undermine the South African government and show how disrespectful the conduct of the Israeli government has been.” 

Israel responded hours later by announcing reciprocal measures, declaring Shaun Edward Byneveldt, South Africa’s representative to Palestine, persona non grata and ordering him to leave within 72 hours. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said the move was in response to “South Africa’s false attacks against Israel in the international arena and the unilateral, baseless step taken against” Seidman.

The ministry said “additional steps will be considered in due course.” 

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The diplomatic row comes amid sharply deteriorating relations between the two countries over Israel’s war in Gaza. South Africa has been one of Israel’s most vocal critics and has brought a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, accusing it of committing genocide against Palestinians – allegations West Jerusalem strongly denies.

Neither government has confirmed whether the expelled diplomats have already departed their host countries, but the deadlines set under diplomatic protocol have passed.