Hamas lauds South Africa for downgrading relations with Israel
The Hamas terror group lauded South Africa for its announcement that it was permanently withdrawing its ambassador from Israel.
The flag of Hamas. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
South African International Relations Minister Lindiwe Sisulu stated Friday that her country is “in the process of following the downgrade resolution of the ruling party and stage one has been completed.”
“Our ambassador is back in South Africa and we will not be replacing him. Our liaison office in Tel Aviv will have no political mandate, no trade mandate, and no development co-operation mandate,” Sisulu stated. “It will not be responsible for trade and commercial activities. The focus of the Liaison Office would be on consular and the facilitation of people-to-people relations.”
South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC) has long been hostile to Israel, has repeatedly called for boycotts of Israel and accused it of apartheid, and has fostered ties with Hamas.
In May 2018, South Africa recalled its ambassador to Israel in the wake of the deaths of Palestinian protestors along the Israeli-Gaza border.
In a statement, Member of Hamas’s Office of International Relations Basem Naim said, that Hamas appreciates South Africa’s ” continuous and unwavering support” for “the Palestinian struggle for freedom and independence.”
He thanked South Africa for” the permanent withdrawal of its ambassador to the Israeli occupation state after the brutal Israeli crackdown on the peaceful Great March of Return protests.”
Naim called for “all countries in the entire world to follow the footsteps of SA, which reflects real support for the Palestinian struggle for their rights.”
In December 2017, senior Hamas figures attended the ANC’s national conference.
What is wrong with these people?! And how can the African National Congress possibly accuse Israel of apartheid when they are so acquainted with what that word means? The only answer can be that they’re ignorant of Israel as a nation and the life lived by all its citizens. Unless, of course, they’re antisemitic; that’s another possibility. Desmond Tutu, in his full Christian regalia, has ranted against Israel for years.