Julius Malema calls for closure of Israeli embassy following expulsion of envoy

EFF leader Julius Malema has officially called for the closure of the Israeli embassy in South Africa, following the recent declaration of Ariel Seidman, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Israeli Embassy, as persona non grata. 

Malema urged South Africa and the broader African continent to 'stand up to bullies such as US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu', whose 'violent and imperialistic nature has resulted in untold atrocities in Palestine and, recently, Venezuela'.

Malema, was speaking at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg on Sunday.

On Saturday, Malema characterised Trump as "the naked face of what the USA has always been – violent, imperialist and evil”,  during the first day of the party's 3rd National People's Assembly (NPA), which concluded on Sunday.

"We must stand together against imperialism and the dictatorship of Donald Trump. That thing of SA sending Ariel Seidman packing was a proper decision. This is the kind of decision we support as the EFF. However, we want the whole  Israeli embassy to be closed down," Malema said.

The backdrop of Malema's comments stems from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) notifying Israel that Seidman was being deemed an undesirable person.

DIRCO spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri, confirmed that this action was in response to a series of unacceptable diplomatic misconducts that threatened South Africa’s sovereignty. These included derogatory comments about President Cyril Ramaphosa made through official Israeli channels and a failure to communicate visits from senior Israeli officials.

Phiri stressed that such actions are not merely breaches of diplomatic decorum but also clear violations of the Vienna Convention, which safeguards these important international relations. 

"Such actions represent a gross abuse of diplomatic privilege and a fundamental breach of the Vienna Convention. They have systematically undermined the trust and protocols essential for bilateral relations," Phiri stated.

While Malema voiced his strong support for the Palestinian cause, he clarified that his critique was not directed towards the Jewish community as a whole, adding that America and Israel's foreign policy is 'predicated on violence and theft of minerals of other countries'.

"I support the Palestinian question. Our stance is not directed at Jewish people, as there are many progressive Jews who do not support what is happening in Palestine. South Africa is being attacked due to the stance that it has taken against Israel. We must never succumb to bullies and people who go around killing people across the world," he added.

Addressing his own experiences with America's immigration policies, Malema stated that he does not need a US visa, asserting, “I don't care about their visa. Whether they approve it or not. They are saving me from junk food. I will keep my South African-nes.”

He indicated that the party's resolve is that it is not willing to alter its stance in the face of international pressure, vowing instead to support nations like Venezuela.

As the party gears up for the local government elections later this year, Malema urged all the leaders of the party to work towards ensuring an electoral victory for the party.

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Cape Argus