South Africa expels top Israeli diplomat over ‘insulting attacks’ on president

Ariel Seidman declared persona non grata and given 72 hours to leave country after remarks on social media

South Africa has ordered Israel's top diplomat to the country to leave within 72 hours, citing insulting attacks" on South Africa's president Cyril Ramaphosa on social media and the abuse of diplomatic privilege".

Ariel Seidman, the charge d'affaires at Israel's embassy in Pretoria, was declared persona non grata by South Africa's department for international relations and cooperation (DIRCO) in a statement on its website on Friday afternoon. Israel's embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.