SA president meets Jewish leaders

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has doubled down on the country's support for Palestinians in the ongoing war with Israel, during a meeting with a Jewish lobby group.

In the meeting, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies asked President Ramaphosa to protect the community from antisemitism.

They also requested Mr Ramaphosa to restore full diplomatic recognition of Israel, including re-opening the South African embassy in Tel Aviv, and preventing the closure of Israel's embassy in Pretoria, a statement by the president's office said.

They further asked Mr Ramaphosa to "speak and/or act against the boycott of Israeli and Jewish businesses in South Africa".

In response, President Ramaphosa condemned antisemitism and Islamophobia but doubled down on South Africa's support for Palestinians.

“President Ramaphosa reiterated the South African government's position on the current conflict in Israel and Palestine,” the president's office said in a statement.

“The President further emphasised the government’s denunciation of anti-Semitic behaviour towards Jewish people in South Africa, including the boycott of Jewish-owned businesses, and Islamophobia,” it added.