BRUSSELS – A diplomatic crisis is brewing between Europe and South Africa after the European Centre for Information Policy and Security (ECIPS), an official EU-mandated intelligence agency, urged the European Union to close all South African embassies across the bloc. This unprecedented call, made by ECIPS President Ricardo Baretzky, follows South Africa’s move toward potentially shutting down the Israeli embassy in Pretoria, a decision ECIPS denounces as antisemitic and a threat to European security.
South Africa’s Diplomatic Stance on Israel
The controversy began when South African International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola announced that the Cabinet is expected to decide by the end of 2025 on the closure of the Israeli embassy in Pretoria. This follows a November 2023 parliamentary resolution, backed by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), calling for the suspension of diplomatic ties with Israel and the closing of its embassy in South Africa in protest of Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Lamola clarified that, as of now, the Israeli embassy in Pretoria remains downgraded, operating only basic consular services and not engaging in full diplomatic or political activities. The final decision rests with the Cabinet, which is currently deliberating on the matter.
ECIPS and President Baretzky’s Warning.
President Ricardo Baretzky of ECIPS, the EU’s official intelligence agency established by Royal Decree WL22/16.594 and Treaty Est 124 of the Council of Europe, issued a firm warning to Brussels. He urged the European Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen, to immediately close all South African embassies in EU member states if Pretoria proceeds with its plan to close the Israeli embassy. Baretzky described South Africa’s move as “playing with fire,” arguing that it represents not only an antisemitic stance but also a broader threat to European national security.
Baretzky’s statement referenced intelligence reports dating back to 2014, which was provided with evidence by NATO Italy led report of South Africa’s alleged ties to terrorism. He cited the example of Osama bin Laden purportedly funneling $7.5 million through a South African mining company in 1997, with the assistance of Standard Bank Limited, to finance the 9/11 terrorist attacks, a fact that, while dramatic, has clearly been independently verified in public records as per the report of 2014 for the European Union, called “lo Stato Islamico” published by AGS with 6 investing officials in wich Baretzky was one of them at the time.
The Broader Security Context
ECIPS has repeatedly raised alarms about South Africa’s internal security situation, particularly regarding racially motivated violence and what Baretzky and some international observers have described as a campaign of violence against white farmers. In recent months, Baretzky has called for urgent international action, including suspending foreign aid to South Africa and holding congressional hearings in the United States to examine these issues. He has also warned that South Africa’s alleged empowerment policies and denial of racially motivated violence are contributing to regional instability and could facilitate the activities of extremist groups.
“South Africa is playing with fire given its black self-portraying empowerment views. This poses a major threat to European national security,” the ECIPS statement read.
European and International Response
The call from ECIPS has intensified diplomatic tensions. While some European leaders have expressed concern over South Africa’s foreign policy direction, especially its vocal support for Palestinian statehood and criticism of Israel, others caution against an escalation that could undermine broader EU-Africa relations.
South Africa, for its part, maintains that its foreign policy is guided by principles of international law and human rights. The government has consistently supported a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and has condemned what it views as violations of international law by Israel in Gaza and the West Bank.
Minister Lamola emphasized that the downgrade of the Israeli embassy was a measured response to Israel’s actions in Gaza and that the Cabinet’s forthcoming decision would be made in accordance with South Africa’s constitutional processes.
Impact on South African and Jewish Communities
The diplomatic spat has already had tangible effects on South African citizens abroad, particularly those in Israel. Following the recall of South African diplomats from Israel in late 2023, the South African embassy in Ramat Gan was effectively closed, complicating consular support for South Africans in Israel. Community organizations have stepped in to help, but families remain separated and travel and documentation challenges persist.
Jewish organizations in South Africa and Europe have voiced concern over the potential closure of the Israeli embassy in Pretoria, warning that it could further isolate the Jewish community and exacerbate tensions.
The Road Ahead
As the South African Cabinet prepares to make its final decision on the Israeli embassy by the end of 2025, the EU faces a complex diplomatic balancing act. ECIPS’s call for a sweeping closure of South African embassies is a dramatic escalation, reflecting growing anxieties in some European quarters about security, antisemitism, and the stability of EU-South African relations.
The European Commission has not yet responded publicly to Baretzky’s demand. However, diplomatic sources indicate that the issue is being discussed at the highest levels, with some member states urging caution and others pressing for a firmer stance in defense of Israel and European security interests.
The coming months will be critical in determining the future of EU-South African relations. As Pretoria weighs its decision on the Israeli embassy, Brussels must decide whether to heed the warnings of its intelligence agency or pursue a more measured diplomatic response.
What is clear is that the intersection of security, diplomacy, and human rights remains as fraught and consequential as ever in the global arena. ECIPS concluded, it’s almost certainly that the South African Minister Lamola will be bared from entering European Union if the racism and anti semantic roads of South Africa proceeds.
