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The foreign ministry made a decision four months ago to downgrade its embassy from Tel Aviv, following the Israel Defence Force confrontation of a group of protesters.
The protesters, whom Hamas claimed were its members, decided to confront Israel after Donald Trump announced that the United States would move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
It was reported that more than 40 people were shot as protesters were forcing their way into Israel, while the Israeli soldiers protected the border.
Leaders across the world condemned the loss of life. The United Nations was also not impressed by what had happened.
While there are attempts to establish peace between the Palestinian Authority and the Israel government, there are obviously challenges in the process whereby the Palestinian Authority believes that whatever effort taken will be subjective in favour of Israel.
The Palestinians are not happy with the role played by Washington.
In fact, they do not trust the United States. This should not be ignored because the situation might not change even after negotiations to try and find peace.
The ANC resolved at its congress in December that it would downgrade Pretoria’s embassy from Tel Aviv.
The political head of foreign ministry did not waste time to partially effect one of the resolutions – and downgraded the embassy.
The foreign ministry, led by Lindiwe Sisulu, called a media conference to alert the world that South Africa was the first country to take a strong decision to return the South African Ambassador to Israel, Sisa Ngombane, home.
We also read in the papers that advisers to the minister of international relations were not impressed by the decision to downgrade the embassy.
It became clear that the pressure to effect ANC resolutions were mounting and needed to be executed at any costs.
The diplomatic rows did not start as a result of the downgrade of the embassy.
It is understood that the Palestinians and the Arab countries supported the liberation movements (ANC and PAC) in so many ways to dismantle apartheid system.
It must also be remembered that the United States, England, France and many countries did not train a single soldier from either the Azanian People’s Liberation Army or Umkhonto weSizwe nor did they help with arming them.
Israel has also not supported the liberation movement because it had its own struggle going on like many countries and therefore should not be punished for that.
But there is a cultural boycott headed by a group known as BDS.
The group encourages musicians to not perform in Israel. We are also told here in South Africa not to buy from Woolworths stores.
We are not told to stop using Facebook or Google or Samsung. Many big companies are based in Israel but we are not encouraged to stop using those products.
If we are to reject everything associated with Israel then we must stop being selective because that only exposes our mediocracy.
Woolworths is not related to Israel.
We had Black Coffee (Nkosinathi Maphumulo) attacked for entertaining his fans in Israel – he was eaten alive by prominent people, including the biggest labour federation (Cosatu) which was supposed to defend him as a worker.
We, as citizens, are confused by the relationship between Pretoria and Israel.
One minute we read that South Africa has redeployed the ambassador to Israel and the next day we are told that the ambassador was there for a personal matter.
Can the foreign ministry come out and set the record clear as to what is happening between the two states?
What also doesn’t make sense is that the embassy/office in Israel is operating, even though the ambassador, who has been recalled home for consultations, is absent.
The office is operating in Israel and the Israeli embassy in Pretoria is fully functional.
It is clear, after four months, that the withdrawal of the embassy did not play any meaningful role to try and bring about peace between the Israelis and Palestinians.
The decision was immature and needs to be reconsidered so that South Africa can be allowed the opportunity to be a key player in finding lasting peace between Israel and Palestine.
Taking sides only worsens the situation.
We are told about consultations but as citizens we are not afforded an opportunity to participate in the decision-making, we cannot allow the ANC to decide our fate while we are expected to be passive “yes-men”.
We want the matter to be put to a referendum so that we can decide for ourselves.
It is clear that ANC has made up its mind and now they want to impose its party decisions on all citizens without first engaging with us.
Democracy is about dialogue.
We must talk this issue through in order to find each other.
» Kenneth Mokgatlhe is spokesperson for the Pan Africanist Congress
