World Jewish News

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South Africa recalls its ambassador

South Africa on Thursday announced that it was recalling its ambassador to Israel for consultations over the Gaza flotilla incident earlier this week.
SA embassy spokesman Judika Tladi told The Jerusalem Post that ambassador Ismael Coovadia was being recalled to Pretoria for consultations so that the government can get a "better understanding" of what happened off the Gaza coast and its implications
Tladi added that Pretoria was not planning on expelling Israel's ambassador to South Africa or severing ties. "This will not affect ties between the two countries. We have no intention of expelling the Israeli ambassador or cutting ties with Israel," Tladi told the 'Post.
The move to recall the ambassador comes several days after Turkey, who sponsored much of the Gaza flotilla whose citizens were killed in the ensuing clash with IDF naval commandos, recalled its ambassador to Israel this week. Turkish ambassador Oguz Celikkol arrived in Ankara Thursday. Tladi said Coovadia would be leaving Israel sometime this weekend.
The decision to recall the ambassador was made at a briefing Thursday by deputy foreign minister Ibrahim Ibrahim, who said the move was meant to show South Africa's "condemnation of the [Israeli] attack on the flotilla."
One South African citizen, a journalist from Cape Town, was aboard the Mavi Marmara ship which tried to break the naval blockade on the Gaza Strip. The journalist was not hurt and is back in SA. Israel expresses its regret and disappointment at the measure announced by the government of South Africa.
"Those who criticize Israel would be better advised to turn their criticism against the terror-supporting rioters from the flotilla, who have nothing to do with humaneness," spokesman Yigal Palmor said in a statement.

JPost.com