CAPE TOWN, South Africa — In a significant deterioration of bilateral relations, South Africa has declared Israeli charge d’affaires Ariel Seidman persona non grata, demanding his departure within 72 hours. The expulsion order, announced Friday by the South African Foreign Ministry, follows what officials describe as systematic violations of diplomatic protocols by Israeli representatives.
The diplomatic rupture stems from multiple grievances, including repeated inflammatory social media posts from official Israeli accounts that targeted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with perceived insults. Additionally, South African authorities cited Israel’s deliberate failure to notify them of official visits by Israeli delegations, characterizing these actions as unacceptable breaches of established diplomatic norms.
Seidman represents the most senior Israeli diplomatic presence in South Africa since Israel recalled its ambassador in 2023. The current escalation occurs against the backdrop of South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, where Pretoria has accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza—allegations Israel vehemently denies.
The expulsion decision is anticipated to provoke strong reactions from the United States, Israel’s primary ally. Previous administrations have criticized South Africa’s foreign policy orientation, particularly regarding its support for the Palestinian cause, which has previously created diplomatic tensions with Washington.