Israel’s Blitz to Win Back African Friends, And Send a Message to South Africa

When Israel’s President Isaac Herzog quietly touched down in several African countries recently, it wasn’t just another diplomatic courtesy call. It was the opening act of a deliberate charm offensiveone aimed not only at tightening ties with African states but also at signalling to Pretoria that Tel Aviv still has powerful friends on the continent, despite South Africa’s high-profile genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

And make no mistake: the campaign is already reshaping conversations in foreign policy circles from Kinshasa to Pretoria.

A New Push Into Africa, With Old Interests at Heart

Independent political analyst Goodenough Mashego argues that Israel’s sudden warmth isn’t purely about politicsit’s also about minerals. And not just any minerals, but the kind that power global industries, defence systems, and high-tech manufacturing.

Countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia sit atop some of the richest deposits of the minerals Israel needs. In return, African governments often receive technological support, security upgrades, and military assistance.

Another analyst, Sipho Mantula, agrees: “Minerals are absolutely on the agenda. This isn’t just soft diplomacyit’s strategic.”

And there’s history behind this. Israel has long cultivated selective alliances across Africa, especially where it can trade military expertise for political goodwill.

Tel Aviv’s Quiet Message to Pretoria

Mashego believes Herzog’s tour was also symbolica way for Israel to show that South Africa’s courtroom fight at the ICJ hasn’t succeeded in isolating Tel Aviv.

Since last year, SA has become one of Israel’s most vocal critics, pushing the genocide case and calling for global accountability after the Gaza bombings that followed the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks. Meanwhile, countries such as Britain, France, Australia, and Canada have shifted to recognise Palestine as a sovereign state, leaving Israel increasingly uncomfortable on the world stage.

Yet Israel insists it still has allies in Africa, and Herzog’s trip was a not-so-subtle reminder.

Who Stands With Israel in Africa? More Than Many Think

Despite SADC’s long-standing reputation for solidarity with Palestine, several African states have retained and even expanded, their engagement with Israel.

Israel’s strongest ties include countries such as:

• Kenya

• Uganda

• Ethiopia

• Morocco

• Chad

• Rwanda

• Sudan

• Ghana

In the past year, Israel Allies Caucuses have been launched in:

• Ethiopia

• Ivory Coast

• Seychelles

• Gabon

• Guinea-Conakry

• Lesotho

These caucuses are essentially political friendship forums, designed to cement cooperation, regardless of wider continental sentiment.

This is happening even though South Africa has been urging African Union (AU) members to distance themselves from Israel. And while many countries supported SA at the ICJ, they haven’t severed ties.

Tension With Pretoria Runs Deep

After the 2023 Gaza bombings, Pretoria escalated its stance:

• It recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv

• It démarched (formally reprimanded) Israel’s ambassador to South Africa

• It pushed global support for the ICJ case

More than 10,000 people had been killed in Gaza at the time, fueling public pressure inside South Africa to take a stance.

Yet despite calls from political parties and pro-Palestinian civil society for a total diplomatic shutdown, the Israeli embassy still operates in Pretoria, now under chargé d’affaires Ariel Seidman.

Why hasn’t SA fully cut ties?
Because diplomacy is never that simple.

The US Factor: A Tariff Threat Hanging Over SA

Israel’s closest ally, the United States, has its own tensions with South Africaespecially over SA’s ties with China and the ICJ case.

Washington has already imposed a 30% tariff on South African exports, and Pretoria is currently in tense negotiations to reverse it. Analysts say the US could escalate pressure if SA were to expel Israel’s diplomats completely.

That pressure was felt even under Donald Trump, who reportedly pushed for SA to drop the ICJ case and scale back its relationship with China. The current negotiations make Pretoria even more cautious.

Israel Wants Talks, SA Isn’t Interested (For Now)

In July, the Israeli embassy signalled it was ready to mend fences and restart formal diplomatic dialogue. But South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) refused.

For now, Pretoria remains firm: no normalisation without accountability.

Public Reaction: Africa Is Watching Its Leaders Carefully

Across social media, reactions are divided:

• Pro-Palestinian groups have accused Israel of “resource-shopping disguised as diplomacy.”

• Some African commentators argue that “Israel is simply doing what any nation would doprotect its interests.”

• South Africans who support the ICJ case often see Herzog’s tour as “an attempt to undercut SA’s global moral stance.”

But others point out that African countries need investment, and Israellike China, the US, and Russia, offers it.

A Fresh Angle: The New Scramble for Africa Isn’t About Land, It’s About Leverage

Israel’s moves may feel sudden, but they reflect a global trend.
Superpowers are treating Africa as the next geopolitical frontiernot for territory, but for:

• minerals

• diplomatic alliances

• military footholds

• strategic influence in multilateral organisations

Israel is simply the latest country to intensify its push.

For South Africa, this raises a difficult question:
Can it keep galvanising continental support for Palestine while key African neighbours deepen ties with Tel Aviv?

Conclusion: Africa’s Shifting Loyalties Will Shape the Future of SA-Israel Relations

Israel’s charm offensive is not just about friendship, it’s about survival in a rapidly shifting diplomatic landscape. SA’s ICJ case has forced Tel Aviv to re-evaluate its alliances, and Africa, rich in resources and geopolitical weight, is now central to that strategy.

Pretoria may have moral influence, but Israel has its own levers, technology, military partnerships, and access to global power players.

As Herzog courts African capitals, one thing is clear:
The battle for political influence in Africa is far from over, and South Africa is right at the centre of the storm.

{Source: The Citizen}

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