S-Africa contemplates shutting down Israeli embassy
(MENAFN) South Africa’s Cabinet is expected to decide by the end of the year whether to close the Israeli embassy in Pretoria, International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola announced during a parliamentary Q&A session on Tuesday.
In response to a question from EFF MP Virgill Gericke regarding the implementation of the National Assembly’s November 2023 resolution to shut down the embassy, Lamola said the issue has been discussed within relevant government bodies and a memorandum is being prepared for Cabinet consideration.
“Only the Cabinet has the authority to make a final decision on the embassy’s closure, in line with the constitutional principle of separation of powers,” Lamola said. Once a decision is made, his department will act accordingly, he added.
Lamola also noted that the Israeli embassy has already been downgraded and now only handles basic civilian travel and visa services, with no active political, diplomatic, or economic engagement between the two nations.
While he couldn't provide a specific timeline, Lamola stated that Cabinet would address the issue before the year ends.
When asked whether any external actors were influencing the government’s stance, Lamola emphasized that the decision would be made independently. “Cabinet is following its own internal processes without external pressure. Decisions will be guided solely by the Constitution, national policy, development goals, and South Africa’s sovereign interests,” he said.
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