Legislators warn SA of Gaza ‘consequences’

Six US Congress legislators have warned President Cyril Ramaphosa that if his government arrests dual SA-Israeli citizens for serving in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) ‘it will have consequences for the US-SA relationship’. The Daily Maverick reports that the lawmakers have also asked Ramaphosa to explain ‘what steps are being taken to ensure that Jewish South Africans are protected against growing anti-Semitism, specifically as senior government officials are increasing their hostile anti-Semitic statements’. The letter is dated 12 April and cites the announcement by International Relations & Co-operation Minister Naledi Pandor on 10 March at a Palestinian solidarity event that her government would arrest South Africans who served with the IDF. ‘This is a grave miscarriage of justice that continues to perpetuate dangerous sentiments against Israeli citizens and the State of Israel’s right to exist,’ the legislators wrote. The signatories are four Republicans – Joe Wilson, Maria Elvira Salazar, James Baird and Michael Waltz – and two Democrats, Jared Moskowitz and Josh Gottheimer. DM notes that Moskowitz recently co-sponsored a Bill with Republican representative John James, calling on the US administration to conduct a comprehensive review of US relations with SA, including SA’s continued eligibility for the African Growth and Opportunity Act which gives duty-free access to the US market for eligible sub-Saharan African countries.

Full Daily Maverick report

Muslims across SA could punish the opposition Democratic Alliance at the elections in May for its stance on Israel’s war in Gaza. This is according to North West University Professor and political analyst Andre Duvenhage who said the party’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict has irked Muslims across the country. ‘One man’s genocide is another man’s freedom,’ said DA leader John Steenhuisen when asked about Israel’s military operations. The Citizen reports that the remarks were in stark contrast to the government hauling Israel to the International Court of Justice, accusing the country of committing genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza. The DA also fired Ghaleb Cachalia from its shadow cabinet over a tweet regarding the conflict in the Middle East. Cachalia shared a post on X saying: ‘I will not be silenced. Israel is committing genocide. Full bloody stop.’ Duvenhage said the situation in the Middle East is escalating ‘probably to a regional conflict … some even say it can become a world war’. ‘So, the problem with these types of cases, and the SA Government is facing the same problem, is that it is difficult to be in a position where you try to be non-aligned. The conflict is escalating to the level forcing you to align on a certain point,’ he noted.

Full report in The Citizen