South Africa Downgrades ‘Israel’ Ties, Won’t Bring Ambassador Back

By Staff, Agencies

South African Foreign Minister Lindiwe Sisulu said the nation will not send a new ambassador to ‘Israel’ after its last envoy ended his term and went home last year.

“We are in the process of following the downgrade resolution of the ruling party and stage one has been completed,” Sisulu said.

Her comments were made in a speech in Johannesburg Wednesday and were posted to her office’s website on Friday.

“Our Ambassador is back in South Africa and we will not be replacing him,” she said. “Our liaison office in Tel Aviv will have no political mandate, no trade mandate and no development cooperation mandate. It will not be responsible for trade and commercial activities. The focus of the Liaison Office would be on consular [services] and the facilitation of people-to-people relations.”

Earlier last month, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the country was “in the process” of downgrading its embassy in ‘Israel’.

For their part, ‘Israeli’ officials confirmed on Saturday morning that South Africa has “no intention of appointing a new ambassador at this stage.”