South Africa and Israel have expelled each other’s senior diplomats after a sharp diplomatic dispute linked to the war in Gaza and legal action at the International Court of Justice.
South Africa declared Ariel Seidman, the Israeli embassy’s chargé d’affaires, persona non grata and gave him 72 hours to leave the country, accusing him of violating diplomatic norms.
Israel responded within hours by announcing the expulsion of South Africa’s ambassador to Palestine, Shaun Edward Byneveldt, also giving him 72 hours to depart.
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated since South Africa accused Israel of genocide against Palestinians at the ICJ, an allegation Israel has rejected.
South Africa said Seidman misused official social media platforms to criticise President Cyril Ramaphosa and invited Israeli officials into the country without authorisation.
Both officials were the highest ranking representatives of their governments, as there is no Israeli ambassador in South Africa and no South African ambassador in Israel.
South Africa’s foreign affairs ministry described Seidman’s conduct as a “gross abuse of diplomatic privilege”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the move against Seidman was “baseless” and accused South Africa of making false claims against Israel internationally, adding that further steps could follow, according to media.
South Africa’s foreign ministry spokesperson criticised Israel for expelling Byneveldt through what was described as an unusual accreditation arrangement involving Palestinian territories.
South Africa withdrew its ambassador from Israel in 2018 after accusing Israel of using excessive force against civilians in Gaza. Israel recalled its ambassador from South Africa in 2023 after the ICJ case was filed.
Seidman was appointed last year and was also responsible for relations with Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius and Namibia.
His relationship with Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, a controversial South African traditional leader, drew criticism after Dalindyebo visited Israel and met senior officials without the South African government’s knowledge. An Israeli delegation later visited South Africa’s Eastern Cape, promising assistance in areas such as water, health and agriculture, according to media.
South Africa recognises several traditional monarchs, though they hold no formal political power.