By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider 

As a form of retaliation towards South Africa, Israel has removed South Africa’s senior representative in Israel and has also given him 72 hours to vacate the country.

This dismal follows the announcement from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) last week Friday, expressing that South Africa has dismissed the Israeli Charge d’Affaires, Ariel Seidman, accusing him of challenging the sovereignty of South Africa and the President Cyril Ramaphosa.

 “Prime Minister Benjamin Nethanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar decided- following South Africa’s false attacks against Israel in the international arena and the unilateral, baseless step taken against the charge d’affaires of Israel in South Africa- that South Africa’s Senior Representative, Minister Shaun Edward Byneveldt, is persona non grata and must leave Israel within 72 hours.” said the Israeli Foreign Ministry in a statement.

 “Mr Shaun Byneveldt, is the ambassador to the State of Palestine, not Israel. Israel obstructionism forces a farcical arrangement where he is accredited through the very state that occupies his host country. This underscores Israel’s refusal to honour International consensus on Palestinian statehood” said DIRCO spokesperson Chrispin Phiri. 

Bilateral relations between the two states since Israel launched military attacks on Gaza since October 7, 2023. South Africa withdrew its diplomats in 2023 and the Israeli Foreign Ministry had recalled its Ambassador to South Africa in order to conduct regular consultations. 

Even though South Africa took Israel to the International Court of Justice in 2024, this has in no way stopped Israel’s military attacks on Gaza, which has prompted the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, to express that South Africa will see to it that the case is resolved.