Malawi and Israel have dismissed criticism from rights groups faulting the two governments over the continued conflict between the State of Israel and Gaza and other occupied Palestinian territories.
The rights groups, Youth and Society (YAS), Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Malawi Palestine Solidarity Movement (MPSM) accuse the Malawi Government of supporting Israel in what they term ‘genocide’ in Gaza.
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But Israeli Ambassador to Malawi Michael Lotem, who is resident in Kenya, has said the groups were ignorant on the term genocide.
The criticism comes after the recent visit of Israeli Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sharren Haskel who hailed Malawi for supporting her country during the war against Hamas dating back to October 2023.
But in a joint letter to Haskel, YAS executive director Charles Kajoloweka and his CHRR counterpart Michael Kaiyatsa claimed the world was witnessing a systematic attempt to erase a people’s existence in Gaza and occupied Palestine territories.
On his part, MPSM spokesperson Asaboni Phiri condemned Haskel for praising Malawi’s “bravery” in maintaining ties with Israel and opening an embassy in Tel Aviv in April 2024.
But in a lengthy call yesterday, Letom described the critics as simply ‘Tik-tock intellectuals’ whom he needed not to respond to, arguing they are ignorant of what is happening in Gaza.
He said: “We have excellent, outstanding relations with Malawi. Leaders have values and not public stunts. These remarks will not break our ties.”
Minister of Information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu said having bilateral relations with Israel does not erode Malawi or Israel’s sovereignty and the independence.
In 2020 Palestine, through its South Africa-based Ambassador Hanan Jarrar, who is also a special envoy to Malawi, protested President Lazarus Chakwera’s decision to open a diplomatic mission in the contested city of Jerusalem.
