International relations experts believe SA's case against Israel could end

JOHANNESBURG - International relations experts say South Africa’s ongoing genocide case against Israel could potentially come to an end, depending on which coalition assumes government.

With the African National Congress (ANC) having lost its 30-year national majority, the seventh democratic administration will be a coalition government.

Over the next couple of days, represented political parties will be meeting behind closed doors to find consensus on a number of issues, including foreign policy.

The previous governing party, the ANC, was publicly pro-Palestine.

READ: Scores of pro-Palestine supporters embark on march to Parliament 'in the name of justice'

Under its stewardship, the South African government took Israel to the International Court of Justice and charged it with committing genocide against the people of Palestine.

Professor of international relations at the University of Johannesburg Siphamandla Zondi says this is likely to change if pro-Israel parties like the Democratic Alliance, Patriotic Alliance and Inkatha Freedom Party come into government.

“A configuration of a coalition that excludes the ANC or that is more towards the right or to the centre, might terminate that on the basis that it is not necessary anymore. It could [also] terminate it because countries to the right of centre are not comfortable with that level of activism.”

Honorary international relations Professor at Wits University John Stremlau hopes this does not become a partisan issue in the coalition discussions.