South Africa pushing AU to revoke Israeli regime's observer status

South Africa’s International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor has revealed that the African Union (AU) will discuss the decision of the union’s commission chairperson to grant the Israeli regime observer status in the pan African organization.

Pandor said the matter would come before the AU in October during a session. She added that, at the meeting of the AU they would push for the body to rescind this decision.

South Africa and many other countries had objected to the decision of the AU Commission chairperson Moussa Faki to grant Israel observer status in the continental body.

Pandor, who was replying to a written parliamentary question from the EFF, said they still object to this decision.

“The government of the Republic of South Africa has formally lodged an objection to the unilateral decision by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission to grant the State of Israel observer status to the African Union. Consequently, the matter has been placed on the agenda of the AU executive council that will convene on October 13 and 14, 2021.

“South Africa and other like-minded countries that have lodged objections will, at the executive council meeting, vigorously pursue the conviction that the AU must, as a matter of urgency, rescind the decision on Israel's observer status, unless and until it complies with all United Nations (UN) resolutions concerning its withdrawal from all occupied territories and give effect to the self-determination of the Palestinian People,” she said.

On July 22, Israel attained observer status at the AU after nearly 20 years of lobbying.

Pro-Palestine language is typically featured in statements delivered at the AU’s annual summits.

Palestine already has observer status at the African Union, and Israeli regime diplomats have criticized recent AU statements on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.