South Africa Expels Top Israeli Diplomat Amid Deepening Rift Over Gaza
JOHANNESBURG, Jan 30 (Reuters) – In a significant escalation of diplomatic tensions, South Africa has declared Israel's top diplomat persona non grata, ordering Chargé d'Affaires Ariel Seidman to depart the country within 72 hours, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) announced on Friday.
The move marks one of the most direct confrontations between the two nations, whose relations have deteriorated sharply since South Africa brought a case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in late December.
In a sharply worded statement, DIRCO accused Seidman of "flagrant breaches of established diplomatic norms," which it said constituted "a direct affront to South African sovereignty." The specific allegations include the repeated use of official Israeli social media channels to launch "insulting and disparaging attacks" against President Cyril Ramaphosa, as well as a failure to formally notify South African authorities of planned visits by senior Israeli officials.
"The cumulative effect of these actions demonstrates a pattern of conduct inconsistent with diplomatic practice and disrespectful of the host nation," the statement read.
Israel's diplomatic mission in Pretoria did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Israeli government has previously dismissed South Africa's ICJ case as "baseless" and "a gross distortion of reality."
Analysis: This expulsion is not an isolated incident but a calculated diplomatic response reflecting South Africa's long-standing support for the Palestinian cause and its framing of the Gaza conflict through the lens of its own apartheid history. The decision risks further isolating Israel diplomatically and could encourage similar actions from other nations critical of its military campaign. It also complicates any behind-the-scenes dialogue, effectively freezing high-level bilateral communication.
Reaction & Commentary
We gathered perspectives from analysts and observers on the ground:
David Nkosi, Political Analyst, University of Pretoria: "This is a severe but predictable step. The relationship has been in a downward spiral since the ICJ filing. Expelling a chargé d'affaires is a serious signal; it's just short of severing ties entirely. Pretoria is making its displeasure unequivocally clear on the world stage."
Leah Cohen, Foreign Policy Commentator based in Cape Town: "While the stated reasons are procedural, the context is wholly political. This is South Africa leveraging every diplomatic tool at its disposal to pressure Israel over Gaza. It aligns with their moral positioning but will have tangible consequences for any remaining cooperation on trade or security matters."
Mark van der Merwe, Former Diplomat: "The failure to notify of official visits is a serious protocol breach. However, the social media accusations point to a new, messy frontier in diplomacy. Digital disrespect is becoming a casus belli between states. This sets a precedent others may follow."
Sarah Goldstein, Advocacy Group Director (Sharper, more emotional tone): "Finally, a concrete action that matches the rhetoric! For too long, diplomatic niceties have shrouded the brutality in Gaza. Declaring a diplomat unwelcome is the bare minimum when the government he represents is accused of genocide. This isn't about protocol; it's about principle. South Africa is showing the moral courage that so many other nations lack."
(Reporting by Anathi Madubela and Nellie Peyton; Editing and additional context by Alexander Winning)