Israel south africa relations

South Africa pulls out of Venice Biennale; because its selected artist wanted to focus on Gaza

Gayton McKenzie, the South African culture minister, said that an unnamed “foreign country” had endeavored to fund the South African installation at the Biennale.

Minister Gayton McKenzie during the 2026 State of the Nation Address Debate at the Parliamentary Dome on Feb. 17, 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Regent Xami in Jerusalem’s Old City, with the Western Wall behind him.

A voice from apartheid: South Africa's Regent Xami’s calls for indigenous support of Israel

People hold placards and Palestinian flags in Cape Town, South Africa, January 26, 2024.

South Africa gov't announces probe for NGO that arranged irregular arrival of Palestinians

South African presenter Juliet Newell and Mamphela Ramphele, the chairperson of the Desmond Tutu Intellectual Property Trust.

South African presenter taken off the lineup for confronting Holocaust denier during interview


South Africa’s ruling party: Israel ties hang in the balance

‘Trump’s J’lem decision has hardened us’ • Country’s largest university announces boycott

A protester and member of South Africa's ultra-left Economic Freedom Fighters party (EFF), carries a placard outside the Israeli embassy in Pretoria, South Africa

Smuts and Weizmann

My great-grandfather’s love of Israel and South African Jews

Chaim Weizmann and Jan Smuts, circa 1915

Jews, Christians band together to stop S. African Embassy downgrade

South Africa’s Jewish and Christian communities have launched several campaigns to encourage the country’s ruling party, the African National Congress, not to downgrade its embassy in Israel.

Regional Cooperation Minister Tzachi Hanegbi shakes hands with the ANC's International Relations Subcommittee chairwoman Edna Molewa during a meeting in South Africa last week. (Facebook)

Commission: Downgrading S. African Embassy in Tel Aviv unconstitutional

South Africa and Israel “need to consider an upgrade, rather than a downgrade.”

A protester and member of South Africa's ultra-left Economic Freedom Fighters party (EFF), carries a placard outside the Israeli embassy in Pretoria, South Africa

How it really was: To be Begin and Peres on the same weekend

As a speaker I did not have the courage of Abba Eban, who as Israel ambassador to the US and the UN in the 1950s was universally recognized as one of the great orators of the last century.

Shimon Peres and Menachem Begin chat at the inaugural session of the 10th Knesset in 1981

Hanegbi dispels claim of S. African ruling party: Meeting was preplanned

In July, the ANC called for the downgrade of the South African Embassy in Israel to a “liaison office”

Regional Cooperation Minister Tzachi Hanegbi shakes hands with the ANC’s International Relations Subcommittee chairwoman Edna Molewa at their meeting in South Africa last week

S. Africa’s ruling party criticized over Hanegbi visit

Israeli ministers have been unable to meet with their South African counterparts due to tensions over what the ruling party has deemed “the occupation of Palestine.”

Regional Cooperations Minister Tzachi Hanegbi meets yesterday withJeff Radebe, Minister in the South African presidential office in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Facebook)

Hanegbi makes rare official visit to South Africa in bid to warm ties

Visit to South Africa comes prior to ANC conference where new party president will be elected

Regional Cooperations Minister Tzachi Hanegbi meets yesterday withJeff Radebe, Minister in the South African presidential office in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Facebook)

Israeli, S. African Instagrammers swap places for a week

VIP photographers from both countries are using social media to document their experiences.

Famous South African photographers Alexi Portokallis and Miklas Manneke experience their first Israeli falafels in Mahane Yehuda on Saturday night

South African opposition party flies Hezbollah flag at anti-Israel march

Buses of pro-Israel Christian supporters were turned away.

EFF leader Julius Malema addresses anti-Israel protesters on Thursday as a Hezbollah flag flies in the background, outside the Israeli Embassy in South Africa