Lamola hopes to table memorandum to Cabinet on cutting ties with Israel before end of year
It comes in response to mounting pressure from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) for the executive to implement a resolution taken by the National Assembly almost a year ago.
FILE: International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola during a briefing on 12 August 2024. Picture: @DIRCO_ZA/X
CAPE TOWN - International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola said he hoped to table a memorandum to Cabinet on cutting diplomatic ties with Israel before the end of the year.
It comes in response to mounting pressure from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) for the executive to implement a resolution taken by the National Assembly almost a year ago.
South Africa is set to deposit its main arguments in the genocide matter against Israel in a memorial to the International Court of Justice next week.
The EFF said it’s unacceptable that the executive has ignored a resolution from the National Assembly to close the Israeli embassy in South Africa.
Three weeks ago, the embassy held an event to commemorate the deaths of over 1,000 Israelis on 7 October last year, attended by politicians from the Freedom Front Plus and the Patriotic Alliance.
In response to a letter from Parliament, Lamola has committed to pointing out to Cabinet government's legal obligations not to cooperate with countries accused of international wrongful acts.
National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza: "The resolution and also the recommendations on how this matter must be dealt with in line with what was recommended by the National Assembly, will be presented by the department before the end of the year."
But the EFF's Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi was not satisfied with her response.
"If the Cabinet has not tabled this matter, we must also be told what is the reason. Why do we take decisions as the National Assembly and then now it has to take time to be resolved at a Cabinet level?"
She was supported by the MK Party, whose chief whip Mzwanele Manyi accused the Democratic Alliance (DA) of blocking implementation of the resolution taken by the National Assembly last November.