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South Africa declares Israel’s deputy ambassador persona non grata, orders him to leave country
- On Friday, South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation declared Ariel Seidman persona non grata and ordered him to leave within 72 hours.
- Citing sovereignty concerns, South Africa listed social media attacks on President Cyril Ramaphosa and failures to notify planned visits by senior Israeli officials.
- Seidman is the most senior Israeli diplomat in South Africa since 2023 after Israel recalled its ambassador, while David Saranga, dispatched as a visiting ambassador, met King Buyelekhaya Zwelibanzi Dalindyebo in recent weeks.
- The expulsion leaves Israel without an accredited senior diplomat in South Africa, with Israel's embassy in Pretoria operating with reduced staff while Israeli officials weigh their response and the move may provoke a strong reaction from the United States.
- This escalation follows prior diplomatic withdrawals and the World Court case, as South African officials saw Israeli envoy activity as a de facto imposition escalating tensions.
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109 Articles
109 Articles
South Africa expels Israel's top diplomat, accusing him of undermining relations
The South African Foreign Ministry said that it was expelling Ariel Seidman, the chargé d’affaires at the Israeli Embassy, and declared him persona non grata — a diplomatic term indicating the person is no longer welcome in a country.
·Los Angeles, United States
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South Africa Expels Israel’s Top Diplomat, Prompting Jerusalem to Reciprocate
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa attends the 20th East Asia Summit (EAS), as part of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Oct. 27, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain South Africa declared the top diplomat at Israel’s embassy persona non grata on Friday and ordered him out within 72 hours, a move that could worsen strained relations with the United States. Israel promptly retaliated by declaring South Africa‘s senior diploma…
·New York, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources109
Leaning Left33Leaning Right11Center25Last UpdatedBias Distribution48% Left
Bias Distribution
- 48% of the sources lean Left
48% Left
L 48%
C 36%
R 16%
Factuality
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