Israel Declares South African Envoy Persona Non Grata as Diplomatic Rift Deepens
- Jan 30
- 1 min read
Israel has ordered South Africa’s senior diplomatic representative, Minister Shaun Edward Byneveldt, to leave the country within 72 hours, escalating an already strained relationship between the two nations.
Israeli authorities announced the decision on Friday, describing it as a direct response to what they termed sustained and unfounded attacks by South Africa against Israel on international platforms, alongside Pretoria’s recent action against Israel’s top diplomat.
According to the Israeli government, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar jointly approved the move, stressing that South Africa’s conduct had crossed diplomatic red lines. Israel also warned that further measures could follow if tensions persist.
The expulsion comes days after South Africa instructed Israel’s Chargé d’Affaires, Ariel Seidman, to leave the country within the same 72-hour timeframe, citing alleged violations of diplomatic standards.
South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation said its decision was aimed at safeguarding national sovereignty, accusing the Israeli diplomat of actions that undermined diplomatic protocol and mutual trust.
Among the concerns raised were alleged public attacks on President Cyril Ramaphosa via official Israeli platforms and failures to properly notify South African authorities of visits by Israeli officials.
The back-and-forth expulsions mark a significant downturn in bilateral relations, highlighting growing political and legal tensions between Israel and South Africa on the global stage.
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