South Africa has declared Israel's chargé d’affaires persona non grata, prompting Israel to reciprocate by expelling a South African diplomat. This tit-for-tat action highlights the deepening rift between the two nations over the Gaza conflict. Experts describe it as a symptom of an ongoing ideological war.
Relations between South Africa and Israel have reached a low point with mutual declarations of diplomats as persona non grata. Under Article 9 of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, a host country can expel a diplomat without explanation, terminating their immunity and requiring immediate departure.
South Africa's decision targeted the Israeli chargé d’affaires for critical remarks about President Cyril Ramaphosa on a podcast, unnotified visits by Israeli officials, and uncoordinated aid to the king of the amaTembu. Israel responded by expelling a South African diplomat handling Palestinian relations from its Tel Aviv embassy.
Steven Gruzd, head of the SA Institute of International Affairs’ African Governance and Diplomacy Programme, stated: “The relationship between Israel and South Africa is in tatters. It has been deteriorating, especially over the last three years. The mutual expulsion of diplomats has not happened in isolation. It’s the latest blow in an ideological war of attrition.”
This escalation stems from South Africa's pro-Palestinian stance, including its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice following the October 7 Hamas attack and Israel's Gaza offensive. Both embassies are understaffed, with no ambassadors in place, complicating visa services and aid for travelers and communities.
A former diplomat compared the situation to “a squabble between two kids in a sandbox,” underscoring the lack of resolution mechanisms. The actions may strain South Africa's ties with the United States, already tense over past incidents like the expulsion of ambassador Ebrahim Rasool for comments on Donald Trump.