The United States condemns South Africa’s decision to expel Israel’s top diplomat last week, a State Department spokesperson says, calling the African nation’s step a part of prioritizing “grievance politics.”
“Expelling a diplomat for calling out the African National Congress party’s ties to Hamas and other antisemitic radicals prioritizes grievance politics over the good of South Africa and its citizens,” Tommy Pigott, the State Department’s deputy spokesperson, says on the social network X.
South Africa’s embassy in Washington has no immediate comment.
On Friday, South Africa declared the top diplomat at Israel’s embassy, chargé d’affaires Ariel Seidman, persona non grata and ordered him out within 72 hours. Israel has no ambassador to South Africa.
It accused him of “unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms and practice,” including insulting South Africa’s president.
Israel responded by expelling South Africa’s senior diplomatic representative to its country.
Israel and South Africa have had strained relations since South Africa in 2024 brought a genocide case in the International Court of Justice against Israel over its conduct during the war in Gaza. Israel adamantly denies the accusation.
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Wednesday, February 4, 2026
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