'Irresponsible' for SA to recall diplomats from Israel – SAJBD

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni confirmed the diplomatic move during the post-cabinet media briefing on Monday.

Ntshavheni said the government decided to withdraw all its ambassadors from Israel for consultations.

Tuesday marked exactly a month since Hamas militants stormed across the border, killing 1,400 people and kidnapping more than 240 civilians.

Israel has relentlessly bombarded the Gaza Strip and sent in ground troops, with the health ministry in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory saying 9,770 people have been killed, around two-thirds of them women and children.

The board's Wendy Kahn believes the decision by the South African government is compromising the safety of South Africans in Israel. 

"We are perplexed by what the minister said. We have requested a meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa so that we can understand their comment better.

“We find that at a time like this when there is a war going on, there are many South African citizens from the Jewish, and Christian communities, and others during a war that our embassy decided to shift the diplomatic staff.

“We understand that there are diplomatic processes of recalling an ambassador for consultation, but this is different, this is bringing home all the embassy staff when South Africans really need a representation there.

“We think that it is very irresponsible," said Kahn.

The South African government has expressed solidarity and support for the people of Palestine while also condemning the killing of civilians on both sides.

Some pro-Palestine groups have held pickets outside the Israeli embassy in Pretoria, calling for the removal of the Israeli Ambassador to South Africa, Eliav Belotserkovsky.

Ntshavheni said on Monday that the government was also concerned about Ambassador Eliav Belotserkovsky's behaviour and has since instructed the Department of International Relations and Cooperation to take action.

Kahn said they don't know what the ambassador has done wrong.

"I don't know what they are upset about, they never said what they are upset about and that is why we have asked to meet with the president to get some clarity," she said.

Kahn also raised concerns that the South African government did not call on Hamas to release the civilian hostages.

"We find it glaring that in the statement by DIRCO and cabinet, there was no mention of 242 hostages taken by Hamas and our government did not call that out at all.

“There cannot be peace, and there cannot be a ceasefire while Hamas is holding these civilians I would call on my government to use their voice to try and get those civilians to be released so that there can be some form of movement for a ceasefire in that area," said Kahn.

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