According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, South Africa, and Algeria are to blame for the serious diplomatic blunder that resulted in the Israeli observer delegation being thrown out at the African Union summit in Addis Ababa and also being barred from Saturday’s opening ceremony.
The incident was first reported by the Walla news website, which claimed that security officers approached the Israeli delegation during the opening ceremony and ordered them to leave.
Following a lengthy discussion, video showed the Israeli delegation, which was headed by Sharon Bar-Li, Deputy Director General for Africa in the Foreign Ministry, leaving.
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According to ministry spokeswoman Lior Hayat, “Israel views seriously the incident in which the deputy for Africa, Ambassador Sharon Bar-Li, was expelled from the African Union hall despite her status as an accredited observer with access badges.”
“It is sad to see that the African Union has been taken hostage by a small number of extremist nations, such as Algeria and South Africa, who are motivated by hatred and under the control of Iran,” Hayat said.
Later on Saturday, the Foreign Ministry made the announcement that the charge d’affaires at the South African embassy in Israel would be called in the coming days for a reprimand by the ministry’s director-general Ronen Levy.
The Foreign Ministry stated that the attempt to revoke Israel’s observer status “has no basis in the rules of the organization.” “Israel being granted observer status at the organization is supported by a definite majority. “
A request for comment regarding the incident from the African Union received no response. When asked about Israel’s claims that South Africa and Algeria were behind the action, the spokesperson for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Vincent Magwenya, told AFP at the summit: “They must substantiate their claim. “
The 55-member group is deeply divided over Israel’s observer status. A discussion of the matter was put on hold at the summit last year in an effort to prevent a vote that would have caused an unprecedented rift in the Union.
The charge d’affaires at the South African embassy in Israel would be called to the Foreign Ministry’s director-general Ronen Levy’s office in the coming days for a reprimand. This announcement was made later on Saturday.
The Foreign Ministry stated that the attempt to revoke Israel’s observer status “has no basis in the rules of the organization.” “Israel’s observer status at the organization is backed by a definite majority. “
A request for comment regarding the incident from the African Union received no response. Instead, a committee was formed, and it was tasked with presenting its findings at the summit this year.
Powerful member states, most notably South Africa, have vocally protested Moussa Faki Mahamat’s decision to accept Israel’s accreditation to the African Union in 2021. This is a rare point of contention for a body that values consensus.
South Africa, Algeria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo were all set to be on the six-person committee, along with Rwanda and the DRC, two countries that supported Faki’s decision to accredit Israel.
At the time, diplomats said Cameroon and South Africa both asked to be included on the committee, along with Nigeria.
Deep divisions exist within the 55-member bloc over the subject of Israel’s observer status. In an effort to prevent a vote that would have caused an unprecedented rift in the Union, a discussion on the subject was put on hold at the summit last year.
In order to protest Israel’s “apartheid regime,” the Palestinian Authority has repeatedly urged African leaders to revoke Israel’s membership in the AU.”
