South Africa orders Israeli envoy to leave over ‘series of violations’

South Africa ordered Israel’s top diplomat to leave the country within 72 hours, citing a “series of violations” and prompting the Israeli government to expel Pretoria’s own diplomatic representative. The South African foreign ministry said on Friday it had informed Israel that its charge d’affaires, Ariel Seidman, was “persona non grata” and “required to depart from the Republic within 72 hours”. “This decisive measure follows a series of unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms and practice which pose a direct challenge to South Africa’s sovereignty,” it said.