He was speaking as national day reception in Pretoria where the official South African representative made not a single critical remark.

Bilateral relations between South Africa and Israel are prickly.

However Ambassador Lior Keinan notes that trade between the countries reaches almost a billion dollars annually.

He advises the many South Africans he meets with a genuine desire to experience Israel.

“Get a plane, walk the streets of Jerusalem, see the beaches of Tel Aviv, enjoy a meal at one of  our world class eateries or markets,” he says

Assistant director for Middle Eastern Affairs Zanele Ngoqo takes a sanguine view of the future:

“There is a possibility of closer collaboration between South Africa and Israel, on the Ferer principle, things cannot get worse, they can only get better,” she says.

She recalls the important role played by many Jews and Israelis in South Africa’s liberation struggle.

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