South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) party on Wednesday approved a resolution to downgrade the country’s embassy in Israel.
The decision, which ANC made at its national conference in Johannesburg, called for the “immediate and unconditional” downgrade of the embassy to a liaison office.
“In order to give our practical expression of support to the oppressed people of Palestine; the ANC has unanimously resolved to direct the SA government to immediately and unconditionally downgrade the South African Embassy in Israel to a Liaison Office,” said a statement from the party.
“We concur with the PLO leader, General Jibril Rajoub, who was at our conference where explained that the downgrade of the SA Embassy in Israel will send a clear message to Israel that there is a price to pay for its human rights abuses and violations of international law,” ANC added.
ANC’s move stemmed from a call by the party’s Western Cape branch in January 2017 to downgrade ties with Israel. The issue picked up steam in recent weeks following President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and expression of plans to move the US embassy to that city.
Both the Palestinian Authority and the Gaza-ruling terror group Hamas sent delegates to ANC’s national conference to observe the events surrounding the South African party’s decision on Israel.