PRETORIA, 6 March, 2021 (TON): On Thursday, South Africa’s Constitutional Court called on the president to apologize and withdraw pro-Israeli statements made in June.

South Africa's Constitutional Court on Thursday called on the president to apologize and withdraw pro-Israeli statements made in June, which had caused an outcry in a country strongly committed to the Palestinian cause.

"We are (thus) denying ourselves a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict", he had argued.

The Judicial Council, which had been seized by the NGO #Africa4Palestine, considered the remarks as "offensive" and "particularly provocative".

It called on the judge to "withdraw them without reservation and to restore the image of justice," publishing the apology text that it wants to hear within 10 days.

The Radical Left Party (EFF) demanded that he immediately withdraw his remarks, accusing Israel of pursuing a policy of "illegal, criminal and genocidal" occupation in the Palestinian Territories.

However, Israel has long been accused of having privileged links with the 'racist' white South African regime prior to 1994, in particular by supplying it with arms despite an international embargo.