South Africa, one of Israel’s fiercest critics on the continent, is also its biggest trading partner in Africa – by far. Of that, nearly two-thirds were traded with South Africa, followed by Nigeria, with which Israel traded goods worth $129m in 2021. South Africa also trades with Palestine, with Palestinian exports of olive oils and other edibles jumping 34 percent between 2009 and 2021. Although the request was granted, Israel’s status was suspended this February, after Algeria and South Africa protested the move. “As we speak, South Africa does not have an ambassador in Israel,” he pointed out.
