The United States on Tuesday criticised South Africa’s decision to expel Israel’s top diplomat last week, with a State Department spokesperson saying the move reflected a focus on what Washington called “grievance politics.”
The United States on Tuesday criticised South Africa’s decision to expel Israel’s top diplomat last week, with a State Department spokesperson saying the move reflected a focus on what Washington called “grievance politics.”
“Expelling a diplomat for calling out the African National Congress party’s ties to Hamas and other antisemitic radicals prioritises grievance politics over the good of South Africa and its citizens,” State Department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a post on X.
Business Insider Africa earlier reported that South Africa expelled Israeli diplomat Ariel Seidman, declaring him persona non grata and ordering him to leave within 72 hours, a move that highlights Pretoria’s push for an independent foreign policy despite the risk of friction with key Western partners, including the United States.
The government stated that the decision followed what it described as “unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms and practice,” including remarks that it said insulted President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Broader geopolitical tensions
Israel responded by expelling South Africa’s senior diplomatic representative. Relations between Israel and South Africa have been strained since Pretoria filed a case at the International Court of Justice in 2024, accusing Israel of genocide over its military campaign in Gaza.
Tensions have also been shaped by South Africa’s deepening role within BRICS, a bloc increasingly positioned as an alternative to Western-led political and financial institutions.
Pretoria has defended its engagement with China and Russia, as well as its support for a multipolar world order, despite US concerns over Russia’s war in Ukraine and China’s expanding influence in Africa.
