Senior Israeli ambassador is expelled from the African Union summit, as the dispute intensifies

• The dispute erupted over a disagreement on Israel’s accreditation to the union.
• Photos uploaded on social media showed AU security personnel confronting the diplomat.
• Israel blamed the event on South Africa and Algeria.

A top Israeli ambassador was barred from attending the African Union’s annual summit in Ethiopia on Saturday, as a disagreement over Israel’s accreditation to the union erupted.

Photos uploaded on social media showed AU security personnel confronting the diplomat during the summit’s opening ceremony, just before she exited the auditorium.

“Israel looks harshly upon the incident in which the deputy director for Africa, Ambassador Sharon Bar-Li, was removed from the African Union hall despite her status as an accredited observer with entrance badges,” the foreign ministry said.

According to Ebba Kalondo, the spokesperson for the African Union’s commission chairman, the diplomat was removed because she was not the fully accredited Israeli ambassador to Ethiopia, as expected.

But Israel blamed the event on South Africa and Algeria, two crucial nations in the 55-country bloc, saying they were holding the AU hostage and were driven by “hate”.

The charge d’affaires at South Africa’s embassy would be called for a reprimand, according to Israel’s Foreign Ministry.

“The attempt to cancel Israel’s observer status has no basis in the organization’s laws,” the ministry said.

South Africa denied the assertion, claiming that the AU had not yet ruled on Israel’s application for observer status.

“Until the AU takes a decision on whether to grant Israel observer status, you cannot have the country sitting and observing,” Clayson Monyela, head of the public diplomacy in South Africa’s department of international relations.

“So, it’s not about South Africa or Algeria, it’s an issue of principle.”

South Africa’s ruling party has always been an outspoken backer of the Palestinian cause.

The Algerian delegation at the meeting did not respond quickly.

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