Some in South Africa’s Jewish community criticise the African National Congress’ stance, pointing out that Nelson Mandela himself eventually tried to build bridges with Israel, Reuters reports.

Historian and author of “Jewish Memories of Mandela”, David Saks, noted that Mandela was the only South African president to have visited Israel since 1994 — albeit only after he left office — and that “he received a rapturous welcome from the Israeli public”, addressing then-prime minister Ehud Barak and then-president Ezer Weisman as “my friends”.

“He pointed the way which things should have gone (diplomatically with Israel), but (they) didn’t go that way,” Saks said.