The ruling African National Congress (ANC) has called the African Union’s (AU’s) decision to grant Israel observer status “insensitive and ill advised”.

Last week, the South African government slammed the decision, claiming that AU members were not consulted.  

The ANC said the decision is antipathetic to the AU’s founding principles and objectives.

The party has urged the AU Secretariat to urgently reconsider and reverse the decision.

“The [timing] is appallingly unfortunate and seems to reward Israel after its air strikes and bombings of Palestine, in open disregard for international protocols on international human rights,” it said.

The ANC has further requested that the matter be urgently referred for consideration and deliberation by the AU Executive Council, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and by the AU Assembly.