PRETORIA– South African International Relations and Co-operation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has reiterated the government’s stance not to reinstate its ambassador in Tel Aviv.
The South African government says it will not bow to pressure to normalise its diplomatic relations with the state of Israel. This follows concerted efforts by pro-Israeli groups to urge Pretoria to reinstate its ambassador to Tel Aviv.
The South African government recalled its Ambassador to Israel, Sisa Ngombane, two months ago following the killing of at least 60 Palestinian protesters and the wounding of about 2,000 more along the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces on the day the United Sttates moved its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
The Jewish lobby groups have denounced the South African government’s move to recall the country’s ambassador as outrageous, whilst pro-Palestinian activists have called for the immediate downgrading of the South African Embassy in Tel Aviv.
Briefing the media here Tuesday, Sisulu reiterated the government’s stance not to reinstate its ambassador in Tel Aviv.
I’m very glad that I recalled the Ambassador, because we could have not been in the situation that we are at now. Its been a violation that has been going on for a long time, and we can’t be looking away,” she said.
“We are holding back on our ambassador (returning to Israel) until we are certain that we are making headway. For us this is an unacceptable situation, completely unacceptable.
Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK