The government of Israel has issued a strong response to South African Minister Naledi Pandor, accusing her of making inflammatory and baseless statements against the country. The dispute arises from Pandor’s recent comments addressing safety concerns in Israel in light of the ongoing ICJ case.
Israel has categorized the remarks made by Pandor as a “blood libel” and has expressed dismay over the unfounded allegations. The term “blood libel” refers to the historical and antisemitic accusation that Jewish people used the blood of Christians in religious rituals.
Tensions have escalated between the two countries as a result of the heated exchange. Despite the ongoing rift, both parties have refrained from commenting further on the matter.
Naledi Pandor’s statement regarding Israel has been met with criticism from the Israeli government, and it remains to be seen whether the two countries will be able to find common ground and move past this recent dispute.