The Cabinet has decided to recall South Africa’s diplomats in Israel for further consultations on the situation in Gaza.
The Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni made the announcement in Pretoria when she briefed the media on the outcomes of last week’s cabinet meeting on Monday.
Ntshavheni says Pretoria is disappointed with Israel’s continued bombing of schools and clinics in Gaza and the closure of humanitarian passages.
Ntshavheni also says the Cabinet is unhappy about the derogatory comments of South Africa’s ambassador to South Africa regarding the country’s opposition to the war between his country and the Palestinian militant group, Hamas.
“The South African government has decided to withdraw all its diplomats in Tel Aviv for consultation. Cabinet has also noted the continuing disparaging remarks of the Israeli ambassador to South Africa about those who are opposing the atrocities and genocide of the Israeli government the position of the Israeli ambassador to South Africa is becoming very untenable cabinet has decided to instruct DIRCO to take the necessary measures within the diplomatic channels and protocols to deal with the conduct of the ambassador of Israel to South Africa.”
“That recall for consultation is a serious signal that South Africa takes a dim view of the situation permeating in that region on what will be done on the Ambassador. We leave it to DIRCO they are the experts on what should be done to the Ambassador. Our responsibility as Cabinet is to instruct them that the conduct and remarks of that Ambassador are unacceptable. He is a guest in our country and he must conduct himself as a guest in our country,” Minister Ntshavheni explains.
SABC News Khayelihle Khumalo on SA’s diplomatic decisons:
