South Africa expels top Israeli diplomat over ‘insulting attacks’ on president

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Rachel Savage in JohannesburgJanuary 30, 2026 at 03:11 PM

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South Africa has expelled Israel's top diplomat, chargé d'affaires Ariel Seidman, ordering him to leave within 72 hours. The South African government declared Seidman persona non grata due to "insulting attacks" on President Cyril Ramaphosa on social media and the "abuse of diplomatic privilege." These actions, according to South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation, violate diplomatic norms and challenge South Africa's sovereignty. Relations between the two countries have been strained since South Africa accused Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice in December 2023. South Africa has long been a supporter of the Palestinian cause, drawing parallels between apartheid and Israel's control over Palestinian territories, a comparison Israel rejects. The Israeli embassy has frequently criticized the South African government on social media.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Donald Trump 30% Yasser Arafat 40% Nelson Mandela ×240% Gaza 50% International Court of Justice (ICJ) ×360% Palestinians ×260% Department for International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) ×270% Ariel Seidman 70% Cyril Ramaphosa ×480% Israel ×1190% South Africa ×1290%

Keywords

diplomatic expulsion 90% israel 80% south africa 80% diplomatic relations 70% persona non grata 60% social media attacks 60% cyril ramaphosa 60% genocide accusations 50% international court of justice 50% palestinian cause 40%