A Palestinian flag is seen on a building opposite an Israeli national flag placed at the entrance of As-Sawiyah village, south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, on November 16, 2025 after settlers placed handreds of Israeli flags on public roads and the entrance of Palestinians villages. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)
The recent whirlwind tour of some African countries by Israel President Isaac Herzog is part of Tel Avivâs charm offensive to win them over and demonstrate to South Africa it has close allies in Africa.
Israel is also eyeing the Democratic Republic of the Congoâs mineral resources that could boost its strategic assets, said independent political analyst Goodenough Mashego.
Both DRCâs and Zambiaâs minerals are important for Israel to obtain in exchange for aid, including technology and military assistance to the African nations, a view shared by an expert on African affairs, Sipho Mantula.
He said minerals were part of Tel Avivâs agenda in Africa, in addition to building diplomatic relations.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, through Herzog, was showing Pretoria that South Africaâs effort to have Israel isolated through its genocide case at the International Court of Justice was not the end of the road for Israel, Mashego said.
ALSO READ: ICJ rules Israel âunder obligationâ to allow aid in besieged Gaza
Israel is embarking on the campaign to show its support has increased on the African continent, despite countries joining SAâs court case, he said.
Israel realised it was getting isolated, with some US allies such as Britain, France, Canada and Australia recognising Palestine as an independent sovereign state.
âFor some time, Netanyahu had gone on a drive to try and influence the African leaders to stand with Israel. Since SA returned to the Organisation of African Unity, which later became the African Union, it has been doing its best to influence Africa to isolate Israel in solidarity with Palestine.
âDespite this, Israel continued to establish friendships with certain countries,â Mashego said.
In addition to its existing ties with Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Morocco, Chad, Rwanda, Sudan and Ghana, the Israel Allies Caucuses were launched in Ethiopia, the Ivory Coast, Seychelles, Gabon, Guinea-Conakry, and recently in Lesotho, following the Africa-Israel parliamentary summit last year.
ALSO READ: PICTURES: SA Global Sumud Flotilla activists return
Although the Southern Africa Development Community countries are often united to pledge solidarity for the oppressed in the world, they retained their ties with Israel, even after the Gaza bombings by the Israel Defence Force in retaliation for the 7 October 2023, Hamas attacks inside Israel.
In November of that year, Pretoria recalled its ambassador to Israel and dĂ©marched the Israeli ambassador to SA, Eliav Belotserkovsky, in protest against Israelâs actions in Gaza, killing more than 10 000 people at the time.
The Israeli embassy in Pretoria continues to operate, but under the control of its chargĂ© dâaffaires, Ariel Seidman.
ALSO READ: âWe cannot turn them backâ: Ramaphosa on the Palestinians who arrived at OR Tambo
There has been pressure from pro-Palestinian lobby groups and some political parties for the SA government to completely sever diplomatic relations with Israel. But cutting ties with Israel is unlikely to happen as Israeliâs powerful ally, the US, could further increase the 30% tariff it imposed on SA exports.
Pretoria is currently holding difficult negotiations with Washington to reduce the percentage. Trumpâs âbullâs eyeâ is for SA to withdraw its court case and reduce its relationship with China â issues Pretoria was unlikely to entertain.
In July, the Israeli embassy expressed its willingness to hold talks with Pretoria to restore relations, but the department of international relations and cooperation refused to entertain the request.
About the Author
