S. Africa expels Israeli ambassador over violations of diplomatic norms

The Department of International Relations and Cooperations has issued a statement to inform Tel Aviv regime of the decision to declare Ariel Seidman as persona non grata calling on the deputy ambassador to leave South Africa in 72 hours, reported Taqrib News Agency (TNA).

According to the statement, the decision follows a series of unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms and practice which pose a direct challenge to South Africa’s sovereignty.

The statement added that the violations include the repeated use of official Israeli social media platforms to launch insulting attacks against President Cyril Ramaphosa and a deliberate failure to inform the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of visits by senior Israeli officials.

South Africa went on to say that,” Such actions represent a gross abuse of diplomatic privilege and a fundamental breach of the Vienna Convention and a systematic undermining of trust and protocols essential for bilateral relations.

South Africa’s foreign ministry also asserted that Tel Aviv regime ensures its future diplomatic conduct demonstrates respect for the Republic.

The diplomatic ties between Israeli regime and South Africa have soured since it lodged a complaint at the International Court of Justice against Tel Aviv over its crime of genocide in Gaza Strip.