Israel keen to resolve differences with South Africa
The South African flag projected onto the facade of the Union Buildings. Picture: GCIS.
The Israeli government wants to start a dialogue with the SA government in an attempt to resolve their differences, but Pretoria has closed doors to talks, according to an Israeli envoy.
David Saranga, a Israeli diplomat on a visit to South Africa, said the International Criminal Court (ICC) matter was the biggest challenge in the relationship between the countries.
South Africa has no embassy in Israel, so South Africans living in Israel have no consular services.
Yet there are significant volumes of trade between SA and Israel.
In an interview with The Citizen in Pretoria, Saranga, who is director of the Digital Diplomacy Bureau at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem, said: 'We may not see things in the same way, but there is need to have this dialogue.
I don't think it will be easy to reach an understanding on certain topics because we don't see things in the same way, but we have to bridge this gap.'
ALSO READ: Israel-Iran conflict: South Africa can't remain silent
Challenges in South Africa-Israel relations
Saranga has held a wide range of diplomatic postings, including being senior advisor to President Reuven Rivlin, acting deputy director-general for public diplomacy, Israeli ambassador to Romania, deputy ambassador to Bucharest, director of the EU Parliament liaison department, consul for media and public affairs at the Israel Consulate in New York and director of public affairs and spokesperson at the Israeli Embassy in Madrid, Spain.
'People in South Africa have very positive sentiments towards Israel. But when it comes to government, we see a harsh line,' Saranga said.
As well as the ICJ case, South Africa's relations with Iran and Pretoria's posture on the Gaza issue are other causes of tension.
Saranga said although the South African ambassador left Israel, the Israeli embassy in Pretoria continued to function under the chargé d'affaires.
But International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola's spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri, said SA supported the ICJ investigation into Hamas' alleged war crimes committed against Israeli and victims of other nationalities on 7 October, 2023.
'We unequivocally condemned these attacks – but these attacks, heinous as they are, can never justify Israeli genocide against Palestinians in Gaza,' Phiri said.
Citing Amnesty International statistics, Phiri expressed concern about the continued 'deliberate indiscriminate attacks often wiping out entire multigenerational families on the occupied Palestinian territory'.
'Our support for the Palestinian people's right to self-determination pursuant to the two-state solution is well documented.
'In relation to Iran, our position that states nuclear capacity should be limited to peaceful use is not only well documented, it is consistent,' Phiri said.
He said statements made by a large number of Israeli senior politicians and top state officials, and subsequent actions that led to the deaths of thousands of children and civilians 'are rightfully before the ICJ'.
Saranga said Israeli bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities was justified and urged all countries that supported peace and stability in the Middle East to support the Israeli position in carrying out the attacks.
He added: 'Iran is a tyranny; human rights and gay rights are not respected in Iran and this is an issue that countries should raise against Iran.'
The Iranian embassy in Pretoria said it would respond at a later date to Saranga's claims.
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There's anger at Mchunu being placed on paid leave while another acting police minister steps in. A double whammy for taxpayers footing the bill. There's also questions over why Mchunu's deputy could not have acted as the minister, saving money. Then there's anger over alleged glaring evidence. Mkhwanazi's alleged proof during his explosive tell all media briefing. He read out whatsapp texts and detailed - with specific references to dates, examples of what he claimed, was interference by Mchunu. Given all that, why did Ramaphosa not call on Mkhwanazi to produce proof of his allegations? Call him in, have that conversation. Would that have saved us from another wasteful expense of a commission of inquiry? If Mkhwanazi did accept that offer and met with Ramaphosa, produced the receipts, so to speak, and if the proof is there - Mchunu would have had no choice but to resign. Ramaphosa is no fool. He is a strategist. A commission of inquiry gives the ANC time to cushion any blows to the brand if Mchunu is found guilty of any wrongdoing. It's true that Mchunu has been tried in the court of public opinion since Mkhwanazi's claims. Mchunu's denial seems to have made little difference. Its either that Mkhwanazi's popularity or that he has the audacity to name Mchunu publicly in wrongdoing - and a timeline of evidence. Interestingly, while those implicated by Mkhwanazi have denied his allegations - including Mchunu, further hint that Mkhwanazi has a trove of evidence to back up his allegations came from another popular South African figure, Gift of the Givers founder, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman. Just three days ago, the good doc says he spoke to Mkhwanazi. "It didn't take more than one minute for me to realize this man knows exactly what he's talking about. He's taken it to the Portfolio committee, to ANC branches, he told me a lot and that's why I'm prepared to back him," says Sooliman. 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