ANC views AbaThembu King's recent visit to Israel as an insult and betrayal

The African National Congress (ANC)’s national executive views AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo’s recent visit to Israel as an insult and a betrayal.

Dalindyebo recently stunned the Eastern Cape provincial leadership after learning that he had also taken Israeli diplomats to state hospitals in the province to arrange donations.

Secretary General Fikile Mbalula said on Thursday that the king’s behaviour is an affront to Palestinians who have been dying at the hands of Israel’s aggression.

Mbalula said it’s no secret that the ANC does not support Israel.

“What the king is doing there is a betrayal of solidarity with the Palestinians, and doing it arrogantly and blatantly like that is unbelievable. It’s unbelievable that someone who comes from a struggle background, who himself was in exile and his father was a stalwart of our movement and liberation struggle, can simply forget all of that.”

Hostilities between the two countries escalated after government filed a case in the International Court of Justice two years ago, alleging Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza.

“It will be something else if the King goes to Israel and goes to Palestine, but to insult the cause of the Palestinians on the soil of the Israelis is a betrayal, and no one must take it lightly. For somebody who has fought for freedom today to be on the side of the oppressed and not taking at least a stance that I’ve spoken to everybody, I’ve spoken to the Palestinians, I’ve spoken to Israelis, I want them to come to the negotiations and talk about peace, at least that is reasonable.”