Ariel Seidman

Ariel Seidman is Israel's chargé d’affaires at the embassy in Pretoria, South Africa. He has recently been declared persona non grata by South Africa and ordered to leave the country within 72 hours. This expulsion is the result of what South Africa deems “insulting attacks” made by Seidman on South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, reportedly on social media, and accusations of “abuse of diplomatic privilege” and “unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms” that challenge South African sovereignty. The South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) made the announcement. In response to Seidman's expulsion, Israel has ordered the expulsion of a South African envoy in a reciprocal move, escalating the diplomatic row between the two nations. This diplomatic tension comes amidst South Africa's accusations of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice.