South Africa ’appalled’ after AU Commission grants Israel observer status

PRETORIA, July 28 (ANA) – The South African government said on Wednesday it was “appalled” at the African Union Commission’s decision to grant Israel official observer status.

The commission took the decision unilaterally without consulting AU members, spokesperson for South Africa’s department of international relations and cooperation (Dirco) Clayson Monyela said in a statement.

“The decision to grant Israel observer status is even more shocking in a year in which the oppressed people of Palestine were hounded by destructive bombardments and continued illegal settlements of the land. The African Union strenuously objected to the deaths of Palestinians and the destruction of civilian infrastructure,” Monyela said.

Last week, Israeli ambassador to Ethiopia, Burundi and Chad, Aleli Admasu, presented his credentials to AU Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat at the continental bloc’s headquarters in Addis Ababa.

Monyela said the decision by the AU Commission was inexplicable.

“The unjust actions committed by Israel offend the letter and spirit of the charter of the African Union. The AU embodies the aspirations of all Africans and reflects their confidence that it can lead the continent through the practical expression of the goals of the charter, especially on issues relating to self-determination and decolonisation,” he said.

He accused Israel of continuing to illegally occupy Palestine in complete defiance of its international obligations and relevant United Nations resolutions.

“It is therefore incomprehensible that the AU Commission chooses to reward Israel at a time when its oppression of Palestinians has been demonstrably more brutal,” he said, adding that South Africa would request a briefing of all member states by Faki on the issue.

“The African Union cannot be a party in any way to plans and actions that would see the ideal of Palestinian statehood reduced into balkanised entities devoid of true sovereignty, without territorial contiguity and with no economic viability,” he said.

Israel had observer status at the Organisation of African Unity, but its efforts to regain the standing have consistently failed in the African Union, which replaced the previous continental body.

Algeria has reportedly also voiced its condemnation of the AU decision to grant Israel observer status.

– African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Stella Mapenzauswa