Sunday Times Politics Weekly

PODCAST | Israel-Hamas war: the case for cutting ties with Israel

We explore the heart of the Israel and Palestine war and why SA is supporting the cause of the Palestinians, our expert panel says SA must cut ties

10 November 2023 - 07:06
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A Palestinian carries a child casualty near the site of Israeli strikes on houses in Gaza City October 28 2023.
A Palestinian carries a child casualty near the site of Israeli strikes on houses in Gaza City October 28 2023.
Image: MUTASEM MURTAJA/REUTERS

South Africa’s position in the Israel-Hamas war has further strained relations between Pretoria and the Israeli government, culminating this week in the withdrawal of our country’s diplomats from Israel.

In this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly we explore the issues at the heart of the disagreement between the countries, and why South Africa is supporting the cause of the Palestinians.

Our guests are Garth le Pere, visiting professor at the University of Pretoria, and Dr Lubna Nadvi, who teaches politics at UKZN.

The two kick us off by explaining the historical relationship between the ANC (by extension the current government) and Palestinians and the genesis of the war.

Listen to the conversation:

Nadvi, analysing the significance of recalling our diplomats from Israel, argues the decision was inevitable and says the real test will be when South Africa shuts the Israeli embassy.

The war has displaced more than 2-million people in Gaza and the deaths of nearly 11,000 Palestinians. 

Nadvi’s teaching areas include international relations, Middle Eastern politics and peace studies, while Le Pere is an executive director at the Institute for Global Dialogue. His areas of interest include international relations, South African foreign policy and the politics of the Middle East.

For more episodes, click here.

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The podcast is hosted by Sunday Times deputy editor Mike Siluma and produced by Bulelani Nonyukela.


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