Israel-Hamas conflict reveals deep divisions within South Africa

The war between Israel and Hamas has caused divisions within South Africa, with the government supporting the Palestinians and facing criticism from the country's Jewish community. The government has withdrawn its diplomats from Israel and suggested that the position of Israel's ambassador to Pretoria was becoming untenable. The Jewish Board of Deputies has called for a meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa to discuss this issue. South Africa has a long history of sympathy for the Palestinian fight for an independent state, dating back to Nelson Mandela, who famously said that their freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians. Despite the recent deadly attack by Hamas on Israel, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) has not changed its position on supporting Palestine. President Ramaphosa has pledged the ANC's solidarity with the Palestinians and compared their struggle to South Africa's fight against apartheid. The government has accused Israel of imposing collective punishment on Palestinian civilians and hinted that the Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip might amount to genocide. The pro-Palestinian stance of the government has been condemned by the country's Jewish community, the South African Zionist Federation, and the opposition party. Large protests in support of Palestine have been held across South Africa, while smaller pro-Israel rallies have also taken place. Some members of the Jewish community have criticized the government's support for Palestine, while others argue that many Jewish figures within the ANC opposed Israel during the anti-apartheid struggle. South Africa has close ties with the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and has supported the recognition of Israel's right to exist in exchange for moves towards Palestinian self-rule. The South African government has defended its engagement with Hamas, citing the country's experience of negotiating with its enemies during the apartheid era. President Ramaphosa has expressed willingness to mediate in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on South Africa's experience of conflict resolution. The Jewish Board of Deputies argues that expelling Israel's ambassador would contradict the government's claim of talking to both sides of the conflict.