(Commentary) Evelyn Gordon - A new Israeli strategy aimed at improving relations with the non-Western world has begun bearing fruit. Highlights of Prime Minister Netanyahu's recent trip to Africa included announcements by both Kenya and Ethiopia-two of Israel's closest African allies - that they would push for Israel to receive observer status at the African Union, as well as Tanzania's announcement that it planned to open an embassy in Israel, 21 years after renewing relations. There are two reasons why Israel ascribes such importance to its warming ties with Africa. The first is the need to diversify its trading partners. Africa is the world's poorest continent, but it's experiencing rapid economic growth, and many of Israel's fields of expertise fit well with Africa's needs, including agricultural technology, water conservation, and counterterrorism. The second, as Netanyahu said during his Africa trip, is the hope of ending the automatic majority against Israel in international forums. Israel's burgeoning relations with Africa obviously stem partly from something beyond its control: the rise of Islamist terror. As several African leaders openly acknowledged during Netanyahu's trip, counterterrorism assistance is currently the thing they most want from Israel.
2016-07-25 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive