SA to push for Israel meet boycott
SOUTH Africa will boycott an upcoming Africa-Israel Summit to be held in Togo in October, South African Ambassador to Lebanon and Syria, Sean Benfeldt, said yesterday.
Benfeldt described the event as a step to normalise African relations with what he labelled an “occupation state” at a meeting with a delegation from the general secretariat of the Popular Conference of Palestinians Abroad in Beirut.
The ambassador described Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip as inhumane, stressing the need for practical solutions to the humanitarian suffering of the population in the besieged territory, the Palestinian Information Centre reported.
Benfeldt also adopted the delegation’s proposal to invite ambassadors of African countries in Lebanon to a special meeting soon to talk about boycotting the summit with Israel.
Israel has been embarking on a major charm offensive in Africa.
Last year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led a delegation of business executives on a tour of Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Tanzania.
And in June, Netanyahu addressed the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) in Liberia, offering water supplies and agricultural technology to counter drought and food scarcity.
However, critics say Israel’s generosity comes at a price: African opposition to UN resolutions critical of Israel’s occupation of Palestine.
Netanyahu is also seeking partners to lobby the AU to grant Israel observer status, which would allow it to influence how African states vote at multilateral institutions such as the UN.
In July, Edna Molewa, South African Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, who also heads the ANC foreign affairs portfolio committee, questioned the Africa-Israel Summit as the ruling party’s policy conference debated the possible downgrading or closure of the South African embassy in Israel.
“We cannot turn a blind eye to Israeli efforts to galvanise support from Africa and elsewhere, with a view to undermining the Palestinian cause,” said the minister.
She said the ANC also planned to “engage progressive forces on the continent on the need to develop a common position and posture” in preparation for the summit in Togo in October.
However, South Africa is now boycotting the meeting.