Are diplomatic ties between Israel and South Africa starting to improve? Despite headlines to the contrary, the ice between Pretoria and Jerusalem is starting to thaw dramatically. While there are elements within the government who would rather see relations between the two countries end, the recent visit by a delegation of Knesset members (MK’s) to South Africa has proven to be a success.
Negative elements about bilateral ties between the two countries have dominated the headlines recently such as the ANC calling for the South African Embassy in Israel to be downgraded or MP’s refusing to meet with the delegation. Despite this, they received a warm welcome from other Parliamentarians, including the leader of the opposition Mmusi Maimane (DA), business leaders and members of the Christian and Jewish communities.
The visit by the delegation of MK’s, follows the visit last year by former Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dore Gold. South Africa has traditionally been more sympathetic to the Palestinians, and post Operation Cast Lead, attitudes towards the Jewish state changed dramatically. Many high level South Africans, including Desmond Tutu, Richard Goldstone, and the former head of the UNHRC, Navi Pillay have all been involved in some way in the singling out of Israel for opprobrium.
It appeared that the two countries were headed on a trajectory that would see an eventual collapse of ties. In fact, in 2013, then Minister of the Departments of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, said that her ministers would no longer visit Israel as a show of support for the Palestinian cause.
Meeting with the mayor of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba, (LT to R) MK Zohir Bahalul, Mk Dr.Nachman Shai, MK Nurit Koren, MK Michal Biran, Mayor Herman Mashaba , MK Amir Ohana, Ambassador Lior Keinan
In response, the then-Israeli foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, accused South Africa of hypocrisy and classic anti-Semitism. He speculated, “a pogrom against the Jews of South Africa was only a matter of time.”
This has not been the case at all. Intense efforts by leaders of the South African Jewish community as well as those in Israel, have worked hard to improve relations between the two countries who share much more in common than they do differences. And this certainly bearing fruit!
“Israel can do so much to help South Africa”, says Amir Ohana MK (Likud). “We met with very impressive and charismatic leaders that included the mayor of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba and opposition leader, Musi Mmaimane. It was very interesting to hear their perspectives on the economy and cooperation with Israel.”
The delegation meets with Mrs. Nkosazana-Dlamini Zuma
The delegation met with Nkosazana-Dlamini Zuma, who is one of the favoured front runners to become South Africa’s next President. The official foreign policy of the African state is supportive of a Two State solution, with mutual recognition and security for both sides. This was the vision of the father of democratic, post-Apartheid South Africa, Nelson Mandela. That is pretty high level in my opinion!
Press coverage around this visit has been extremely positive – a far cry from the hysterical handwringing that preceded it.
The BDS movement would have you believe that the ANC narrative is influenced by them. Not so! Judging the visit measured by its length of duration and the wide range of people it met, South Africans are very open to hearing about Israel and seeing how mutual ties and cooperation can benefit South Africa and its citizens from all sectors.
While the delegation did not meet with the ANC MPs, and BDS persist with their false allegations of apartheid in Israel, members of the Israeli delegation remain optimistic.
“It is ridiculous to even compare Israel to Apartheid South Africa! One of our delegation is a representative of the Arab Joint List. This would never have happened in South Africa!”, says an emphatic Ohana.
The delegation visits the Hollocausr centre in Cape Town
The delegation demonstrated the type of representation that exists within the government of Israel and that the Jewish state, albeit flawed like most states, is a robust and vibrant democracy, unlike any other state in the Middle East!
Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu has visited numerous African countries and bilateral relationships are growing, even with Muslim states on the continent.
Perhaps the realization that the rest of the continent is warmly embracing the Jewish state is indicative of ‘the winds of change’. This can only mean great things for the future of South African-Israel relations.
*Courtesy of the SABC Digital News
