South Africa has recalled its ambassador to Israel to protest against Monday’s raid on the Gaza Flotilla. South African Jewish leaders called their government’s decision “premature and inappropriate”.
A spokesman for the South African Embassy in Tel Aviv said Pretoria was not planning to expel Israel’s ambassador to South Africa, or sever diplomatic relations completely. “This will not affect ties between the two countries,” he was quoted as saying by the ‘Jerusalem Post’.
Israel’s ambassador in South Africa, Dov Sergev-Steinberg, was summoned earlier this week to a meeting and given a protest note from Deputy Foreign Minister Sue Van Der Merwe.
Israel expressed its regret and disappointment at the South African move. “Those who criticize Israel would be better advised to turn their criticism against the terror-supporting rioters from the flotilla, who have nothing to do with humaneness,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said in a statement.