Pandor slates Israeli ambassador for ‘concerning behaviour’
International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor says the Israeli ambassador is guilty of the same conduct as the US ambassador to SA by making undesirable statements without engaging the government.
Pandor’s statement comes as Cabinet earlier announced the withdrawal of its diplomats from Tel Aviv amid Israel’s war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Briefing the public on the outcome of the cabinet meeting on Monday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the government was also concerned about Eliav Belotserkovsky's behaviour and has since instructed the Department of International Relations and Cooperation to take action.
Thousands of civilians have been killed since Israel began its airstrike on Gaza in retaliation after Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on 7 October.
READ MORE: Health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says war death toll surpasses 10,000
There has been widespread condemnation of Israel’s deadly response, which has resulted in the displacement of thousands of Gazans and a devastating humanitarian crisis with food, water, fuel and medical supply shortages.
Some pro-Palestine civic organisations and political parties have called for the expulsion of the ambassador.
Pandor has called on Belotserkovsky to refrain from making comments without having any discussions with senior government officials.
“The ambassador of Israel has been making a number of comments almost akin to the statements that were made, without proof, by the United States ambassador a few months ago. And we felt important that we should call the ambassador in, and he should desist from making the statements he’s been making.”
She’s also expressed concern over the conduct of some ambassadors to South Africa, which she described as “strange”.
“People think that they can have a licence. I don’t know if this is because it's an African country, and they can disrespect us, but it’s something we shouldn’t tolerate.”
The minister also said there was nothing untoward about the withdrawal of SA’s diplomats from Tel Aviv.
UKRAINE ON GAZA: ‘NEW WAR ALWAYS OVERSHADOWS OLD WAR’
Meanwhile, following reports Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said the war in the Middle East had overshadowed the one in his country, Ambassador Kuleba insisted that it was only the media attention that had been diverted.
“This is how world media works; the new war always overshadows the new war. If something else happens tomorrow in another part of the world, we will be talking about that…
“It’s fair that people are paying more attention to the new devastating conflict in the world. But we don’t feel that Ukraine is receiving less attention on the global agenda. So, the media attention shrinked (sic), but political attention didn’t.”
Kuleba reiterated their support for the amendment of the United Nations resolution condemning the attack by Hamas on Israel.
“Unfortunately, this amendment didn’t make it into the text. Abstaining from a resolution doesn’t mean voting against the resolution – and SA knows it best because it abstained from all the votes related to the large-scale invasion by Russia in Ukraine.”
Minister Pandor repeated South Africa’s call for an immediate end of hostilities and the unconditional provision of medical supplies and humanitarian aid.
“It has become more urgent that the relevant UN resolutions and decisions are fully executed to ensure peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine for sustained peace.”
The South African government has condemned Israel’s collective punishment of Palestinians and the gross violation of humanitarian law following the Hamas attack while warning that the violence threatens to destabilise the Middle Eastern region.
Israel has repeatedly ignored calls for a two-state solution, saying it would not negotiate peace with "terrorists".
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