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Jewish Agency for Israel Chairman Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog recently postponed a planned trip to South Africa amid concerns that Pretoria might seek his arrest. The move followed an internal review that highlighted potential legal risks.
A Jewish Agency spokesperson confirmed the decision, noting that “following a recent assessment of the general situation, a planned trip to South Africa by Chairman Doron Almog has been postponed.”
The Jewish Agency emphasized that it would maintain its international work without interruption. “The Jewish Agency’s activities in all communities will continue to strengthen their mutual ties and their bonds with Israel,” the spokesperson said.
South Africa’s Hostile Stance Toward Israel
Ties between South Africa and Israel have sharply deteriorated since Hamas’s October 7th massacre in 2023. The next month, Israel recalled its ambassador after Pretoria did the same. A short time later, the Knesset recommended suspending diplomatic ties until the war’s end.
Tensions escalated further when South Africa presented a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The filing accused Israel of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Furthermore, Pretoria’s foreign minister warned that South Africans who serve in the Israel Defense Forces could face arrest on return.
Since January 2024, South Africa has restricted political and diplomatic contact with Israel, further deepening the rift.
Almog’s Personal Loss in the October 7 Massacre
Almog has also faced personal tragedy from the Hamas-led assault. His brother-in-law, Nadav Goldstein-Almog, and his niece, Yam, were murdered in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Meanwhile, Nadav’s wife, Chen, and their three younger children — Agam, 17, Gal, 11, and Tal, 9 — were kidnapped and held in Gaza for more than 50 days before their release.
Previously, Almog commanded the IDF Southern Command from 2000 to 2003, where he led counter-terrorism operations in Gaza. His long career in security highlights the seriousness of the threats he now faces abroad.
Rising Lawfare Against Israel
The South African case reflects a wider international pattern. Increasingly, hostile governments and activist groups seek to weaponize legal systems against Israel and its leaders. By filing lawsuits and pushing for arrest warrants, they attempt to brand Israel as a pariah state and delegitimize its right to defend itself.
This lawfare strategy not only threatens Israeli officials abroad but also undermines international justice, twisting legal systems into tools of political warfare. Moreover, such tactics risk normalizing the abuse of courts to advance antisemitic agendas.
Take Action
CAM has launched Report It — a secure app to report antisemitic incidents anonymously and in real time. Don’t stay silent — download it today on the Apple Store or Google Play. See it. Report it. Stop it. Together, we can fight this hate.
