Johannesburg - South Africa’s Boycott, Disinvestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel organisation has lashed out at South Africa’s ambassador to Israel, accusing him of behaving disrespectfully and violating government policy towards Israel.
In a Monday press release BDS SA stated Sisa Ngombane “conducted himself in a deeply disrespectful, imposing, unprofessional and exceptionally distasteful manner” during a press conference broadcast live from OR Tambo International Airport to welcome human rights activist, Leigh Ann Naidoo home on Friday.
Naidoo, along with 12 other women, were en route to the Israeli blockaded Palestinian Gaza Strip when their boat was unlawfully intercepted by Israel. They were subsequently detained and deported.
“The human rights and Palestine solidarity organisation BDS SA is, together with other activists, shocked by the conduct of Ngombane. We are even more concerned by the biased pro-Israeli views expressed by Ngombane,” stated the press release.
Among other comments, Ngombane asserted at the press conference that Palestinians were to blame for Israel’s attacks on Gaza in 2014 (where, according to the UN, over 2 500 Palestinians including more than 550 children were killed).
“This is, as others have pointed out already, not only unfounded, but at odds with the official position of the South African government and the governing party,” said BDS SA.
“Ngombane has frequently contradicted both ANC resolutions and Government policies. We have received several reports increasingly suggesting that Ngombane has become an advocate for normalising relations, especially trade, with Israel.
“He has previously said “it is important for the two governments [Israel and South Africa] to establish a pattern of meeting and talking so that they can find avenues of common ground outside the heated political arena. Trade is one of those avenues.”
Ambassador Ngombane has also belittled South African civil society saying that the South African street might be strongly pro-Palestinian, but its calls against Israel have nothing to do with government policy, added BDS SA.
Furthermore, Ambassador Ngombane is at odds with South African Government policy of no travel to Israel for SA Government officials.
President Jacob Zuma reminded political leaders earlier this year that: “We reiterate that we discourage travel to Israel for ANC leaders, members and representatives for business and leisure purposes”.
Ambassador Ngombane was quoted by the Times of Israel as saying he was hoping that the Zuma will feel in his second term that he needs to see ways how to engage, not from afar and not from a distance.
The ambassador went on to explain that his Embassy has “a lot of plans for visits,” and was exerting “pressure” on Pretoria to send ministers to Israel.
Ngombane is also alleged to have not assisted the Womens Boat to Gaza’s Leigh Ann Naidoo with consular services, assistance and intervention when she was detained by Israel
“This is not the first time that the South African Embassy in Israel, under Ngombane, has not provided consular assistance to South African citizens and activists,” said BDS SA.
Previously a pro-Palestinian church activist has also alleged that Ngombane did not come to his assistance when the activist was detained, interrogated and then deported by Israel.
Finally, Ngombane was said to celebrate a relationship with TelFed inviting the organisation for various events, meetings and engagements as well as attending events and programs of TelFed, said BDS SA.
TelFed is the Israeli arm of the South Africa Zionist Federation that was established in 1948 even before the State of Israel was declared and was part of the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian villages during Israel’s establishment.
TelFed, through the SA Zionist Federation, was even involved in flying military supplies to Israel during this period.
TelFed today boasts of its support for Southern Africans serving in the Israeli Defence Forces, on its website stating that there are between 35 and 50 ‘lone soldiers’ from Southern Africa volunteering in the Israeli army at any given time.
“South Africans serving in foreign armies violates various South African regulations. Organisations that support such mercenary activities should not be celebrated or endorsed by South African Government officials,” said BDS SA.
A spokesman from the South African Embassy in Israel told the African News Agency (ANA) that the ambassador was abroad and that the embassy would not be commenting on the issue.
Several calls, and an email to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in Pretoria, requesting comment went unanswered.
ANA was unable to get hold of the Israeli Ambassador to South Africa for comment.
African News Agency