South Africans will be allowed to continue investing in Israel up to a maximum of 40 million Rands (about $15 million) during the coming year, government sources said Sunday.
Agreement on the continuation of South African investment was reached during two days of economic talks held by Israeli officials in Pretoria last week. They returned home Sunday.
The Israel Finance Ministry said Sunday that the negotiations, which took place under a virtual news blackout by the Israeli government, had dealt with credit lines for South African exports to Israel, fishing rights for Israeli vessels in South African waters, and investments in Israel by South African citizens.
Prof. Shlomo Avineri, a former Director General of the Foreign Ministry, said on Israel Television Sunday night that Israel should not have sent its delegation to South Africa at a time when the entire Western world was considering curtailing its relations with that country.
“There is concern that the South African government is trying to use its commercial agreement with Israel to bypass a possible ban by some Western countries,” he said.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
