In July, the ANC’s national policy conference had decided to adopt a resolution made by the ANC in the Western Cape to downgrade South Africa’s embassy in Israel, because of the expansion of Israeli settlements into Palestinian territories. That resolution would then be brought to the elective conference where it would have to be approved before it could be put to government.

The decision comes at a time when international attention is once against on Israel and Palestine following remarks by US President Donald Trump, who declared Jerusalem to be Israel’s capital.