South African lawmakers have voted to suspend diplomatic ties with Israel and close the country’s embassy in Tel Aviv. The vote comes amid growing anger in South Africa over Israel’s offensive in Gaza. However, Israel may retaliate by expelling South African diplomats in retaliation.
South Africa and its ruling Parliament have voted in favor of a motion to close Israel’s embassy in Pretoria and suspend diplomatic relations amid rising tensions over Israel’s actions in Gaza. The motion, proposed by the left-wing opposition party Economic Freedom Fighters and supported by the ruling African National Congress, passed with 248 votes in favor and 91 against on Tuesday.
The move is largely symbolic, and its implementation depends on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government. President Ramaphosa has criticized Israel, alleging war crimes and genocide in Gaza. The vote took place after Israel announced the recall of Ambassador Eli Belotserkovsky from Pretoria ‘for consultations.’
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South Africa, a long-time supporter of the Palestinian cause, has not had an ambassador in Israel since 2018. Many Palestinian rights groups draw parallels between the Israeli occupation and South Africa’s past apartheid regime. The country also hosted a virtual summit of BRICS nations, where leaders called for an immediate humanitarian truce in Gaza.
Ramaphosa emphasized the need for collective efforts to address the situation, stating, ‘Let us work together to realize a just, peaceful, and secure future for the people of both Palestine and Israel.'”
The South African government has been a vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza, and it has repeatedly called for a ceasefire. The government has also said that it is considering referring Israel to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes.
The vote is likely to have a significant impact on relations between South Africa and Israel. The two countries have had a close relationship for many years, but that relationship has been strained in recent years.
It is unclear how Israel will respond to the vote. However, Israel may retaliate by expelling South African diplomats. The vote is also likely to have a wider impact. It could embolden other countries to take similar action against Israel. It could also lead to a further deterioration of the situation in the Middle East.