Will South Africa’s new coalition gov’t change tack on Israel-Palestine?

As the new government includes parties neutral about Israel’s war on Gaza, ANC insists it will still support Palestine.

Cape Town, South Africa – When South Africa, under its ruling African National Congress (ANC) party, took Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in January on allegations of genocide in Gaza, it drew applause from a range of nations, especially in the Global South.

Back at home, though, the support was more muted among the country’s other political parties. The ANC’s main rival at the time, the right-leaning Democratic Alliance (DA), opposed the step — although it subsequently asked Israel to adhere to the ICJ’s interim rulings. The right-wing populist Patriotic Alliance (PA) called South Africa’s move a “joke”.

Now, five months later, the ANC has stitched together a coalition government to rule the country with the DA and to a lesser extent the PA and the nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), raising concerns about how South Africa’s approach to Israel and Palestine may change.

The ANC fell short of a majority in May elections for the first time since the end of apartheid.

The ANC insists that it will not change its position in support of Palestine despite the new coalition agreement.