South African politician suspended for saying her city is ‘friend of Israel’
Mayor of Johannesburg said Mpho Phalatse’s remarks "didn’t adequately address the complexity and sensitivity of the issue. They caused confusion."
The mayor of Johannesburg has suspended a City Council member for saying the city was a friend of Israel.
In announcing Mpho Phalatse’s suspension, Mayor Herman Mashaba said her “remarks didn’t adequately address the complexity and sensitivity of the issue. They caused confusion,” News24 reported.
Speaking during a pro-Israel event organised by local Jews, Phalatse remarked: “I would like to declare that I am a friend of Israel and the city of Johannesburg is a friend of Israel. Shalom.” Phalatse was suspended after other councilors called for her firing.
The African National Congress, South Africa’s ruling political party, last month compared Israel’s actions on the Gaza border to Nazi Germany’s actions against the Jews. Israeli troops have killed dozens of Palestinians there in riots organised by Hamas. Demonstrators have hurled dozens of firebombs at the troops amid attempts to breach Israel’s security fence. South Africa announced following the clashes that its ambassador will leave Israel “until further notice.”
Meanwhile, an online petition urging the South African government “to cease efforts to sever ties with the State of Israel and to reinstate” its ambassador to Israel has received 27,000 signatures since its posting online this week.
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