South Africa Orders Israeli Diplomat to Leave Over Protocol Breaches
In a significant diplomatic escalation, South Africa has declared Israel's top diplomat in the country persona non grata and ordered his departure within 72 hours. The foreign ministry announced this decisive action on Friday, January 30, citing what it described as a series of unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms.
Background of Strained Relations
Relations between South Africa and Israel have been severely strained since 2023, when South Africa approached the United Nations' top court. The African nation argued that Israel's military campaign in Gaza—an illegally occupied Palestinian territory—amounted to genocide under international law. This legal action set the stage for the current diplomatic crisis.
Official Declaration and Departure Order
The South African foreign ministry stated that the Israeli government had been formally notified that its charge d'affaires, Ariel Seidman, was declared persona non grata and required to depart from the Republic within 72 hours. This measure followed what Pretoria called a direct challenge to South Africa's sovereignty through repeated diplomatic protocol violations.
Specific Violations Cited
The ministry detailed several specific incidents that led to this unprecedented action:
- Social Media Attacks: The repeated use of official Israeli social media platforms to launch what South Africa called insulting attacks on President Cyril Ramaphosa
- Unauthorized Visits: A deliberate failure to notify South African authorities about purported visits by senior Israeli officials
- Protocol Breaches: A visit by an Israeli delegation to Eastern Cape province earlier this month that took the national government by surprise
Notable Incidents That Escalated Tensions
South African officials were particularly angered by a November tweet from the Israeli embassy that sarcastically praised President Ramaphosa for what it called a rare moment of wisdom and diplomatic clarity. This post referenced Ramaphosa's comments about boycott politics in relation to US President Donald Trump's decision not to attend the G20 summit in Johannesburg.
The unauthorized visit to Eastern Cape province, hosted by a traditional Xhosa king who had met Israeli President Isaac Herzog in December 2023, further exacerbated tensions. The Israeli delegation reportedly offered assistance in water supply, healthcare, and agriculture during this visit.
Legal and Diplomatic Framework
In its official statement, the South African foreign ministry asserted that Israeli representatives' actions represent a gross abuse of diplomatic privilege and a fundamental breach of the Vienna Convention. The ministry emphasized that these actions systematically undermined the trust and protocols essential for bilateral relations between the two nations.
Broader Context of South Africa-Israel Relations
South Africa, home to sub-Saharan Africa's largest Jewish community, has maintained consistent support for the Palestinian cause while being openly critical of Israel's actions in Gaza. Pretoria's embassy in Tel Aviv has remained closed since November 17, 2023, reflecting the deteriorating relationship.
The International Court of Justice case filed by South Africa in 2023 remains a major point of contention. South Africa argued that Israel's military campaign following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack violated the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention—an allegation Israel has firmly rejected.
Additional Points of Friction
Other incidents have contributed to the strained relations:
- The arrival of more than 150 Palestinians in South Africa in November without Israeli departure stamps on their passports, which Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola suggested indicated a clear agenda to cleanse Palestinians out of Gaza and the West Bank
- Repeated protests in South Africa against the Israeli government and military over the Gaza war, including calls to close Israel's embassy in Pretoria
- Editorial criticism from Seidman in November about South Africa maintaining full diplomatic relations with Iran while portraying engagement with Israel as illegitimate
- Worsening tensions between South Africa and the Trump administration, a close Israeli ally, particularly over the ICJ case
This diplomatic expulsion represents one of the most significant developments in the increasingly contentious relationship between South Africa and Israel, with implications for international diplomacy in the region.
