Israeli embassy's fate now in Cabinet's hands, says Lamola

THE Cabinet will only decide by the end of the year on the potential closure of the Israeli embassy in Pretoria- two years after a  National Assembly resolution to close down the Israeli embassy.

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola disclosed this during a question-and-answer session in the National Council of Provinces on Tuesday.

Responding to a question from EFF MP Virgill Gericke about the steps he has taken in honouring and executing the November 2023 resolution of the National Assembly to close down the Israeli embassy, Lamola said consultations have taken place within the relevant government cluster system to prepare a memorandum for submission to the Cabinet.

“In accordance with the constitutional principle of the separation of powers, the authority to decide on the possible closure of the Israeli embassy in South Africa rests solely with the Cabinet.

“Once Cabinet has deliberated and reached a final destination, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation will act in accordance with these directives,” he said.

Lamola indicated that the Israeli embassy remained downgraded.

“The downgraded embassy only just facilitates the normal processes of visa and travelling of civilians between the two countries, with no full operation of a full embassy in terms of liaising on political, diplomatic, and also economic relations between the two countries.”

He also said since the matter was processed through the Cabinet process, he was unable to specify the date it will be resolved.

“But I can state that before the end of the year, Cabinet will have processed the matter.”

Asked what outside forces were exerting pressure on the Cabinet or the government to relent on its initial resolve to close the Israeli embassy, Lamola said the authority to decide on the possible closure of the Israeli embassy in South Africa rests solely with the Cabinet.

“Cabinet has to undergo its internal processes, which it will be undergoing to deal with this matter, and it is being processed.

“It will be processed objectively, in line with the South African constitution, with no external pressure to be exerted on the South African government by any forces or anyone. The South African government will act within its sovereignty to make decisions informed by facts, policies, the Constitution, the National Development Plan, and national interests,” he said.

Asked whether his department has considered other measures like economic sanctions against Israel as part of intensifying pressure against the continued Israeli attacks and aggression against Palestine, Lamola said the matter will require the Cabinet to deliberate on whether to exert economic sanctions and any other pressures that may need to be executed.

“But the South African government will continue to support the work that has been done by other countries. The European Union, its member states, have also begun to sanction some of the leaders of the Israeli regime in terms of economic sanctions, and also some countries like those in the G-7 have announced this type of measures.”

He explained that the existing decision that has been taken relates to taking the Israeli government to the International Court of Justice.

Lamola also said economic sanctions against Israel will require all countries to play a role through various instruments.

Cape Times