Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
21 February 2023 | 6:55 CAT

Image: Al-Jazeera

A Senior Israeli diplomat has been removed from the African Union’s annual summit in Ethiopia as a dispute over Israel’s accreditation to the bloc escalated.

A video posted on social media showed security personnel walking Ambassador Sharon Bar-Li out of the auditorium during the opening ceremony of the summit in Addis Ababa on Saturday.

Allie Komape, from the Africa4Palestine, told Radio Islam International the diplomat “asked to leave” had not been invited to the meeting, nor were they welcome.

Israel blames the incident on South Africa and Algeria, the two key nations in the 55-country bloc, alleging they are behind this.

“Israel looks harshly upon the incident in which the deputy director for Africa, Ambassador Sharon Bar-Li, was removed from the African Union hall despite her status as an accredited observer with entrance badges,” the Israeli foreign ministry said.

Vincent Magwenya, the spokesman for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa present at the summit, demanded that Israel “substantiate their claim” after the latter accused arch-foe Iran of orchestrating the move with help from Algeria and South Africa.

South Africa’s governing party has historically been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause.

“Minister Naledi Pandor has been very vocal at the AU and other platforms as well. She stated South Africa cannot stand having Israel in any form at the African Union,” says Komape.

In a statement on Sunday, the African National Congress (ANC), which compares Israel to an “apartheid state”, clearly supported Bar-li’s ousting.

Palestinian groups on Sunday hailed Bar-li’s removal.

“The expulsion is consistent with the AU support for our people and their legitimate rights,” the Fatah movement, led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said in a statement.

Listen to the full interview on Your World Today with Mufti Yusuf Moosagie.