Zambia Controversially Endorses US Embassy In Jerusalem

Yesterday, Zambia was one of a number of African countries that attended the opening of the United States' new embassy in Jerusalem. 

On Monday, Gaza had its bloodiest day in years after Israeli forces shot and killed 52 Palestinians and wounded at least 1,200 as tens of thousands protested the relocation of the US embassy in Jerusalem.

Contrary to Zambia, South Africa took a strong stance against the killing of 41 Palestinians by Israeli armed forces by pulling its Ambassador Sisa Ngombane with immediate effect until further notice out of Israel.

The other 11 Ambassadors who attended the event were drawn from Angola, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Sudan and Tanzania.

Notably absent from the list were some of Israel’s allies and staunchest friends, such as Canada, Australia and Germany.

Other important countries with which Israel has good ties such as China, Russia, Argentina and India also boycotted the event.

Most European countries have slammed US President Donald Trump’s move to relocate the embassy as not in line with international consensus, preferring to wait on recognizing the city until its status is finalized in talks with the Palestinians.

And South Africa has taken a strong stance against the killing of 41 Palestinians by Israeli armed forces by pulling its Ambassador Sisa Ngombane with immediate effect until further notice out of Israel.

“Given the indiscriminate and gravity of the latest Israeli attack, the South African government has taken a decision to recall Ambassador Sisa Ngombane with immediate effect until further notice,” Department of International Relations spokesperson Ndivhuwo Mabaya said on Monday.

Mabaya said the attack also resulted in scores of Palestinian citizens being injured.

He said government condemned “in the strongest terms possible the latest act of violent aggression carried out by Israeli armed forces along the Gaza border”.

“[This] led to the deaths of over 40 [people] killed following a peaceful protest against the provocative inauguration of the US embassy in Jerusalem,” he said.

Mabaya said South Africa reiterated its view that the Israeli Defence Force “must withdraw from the Gaza Strip and bring to an end the violent and destructive incursions into Palestinian territories”.