Netanyahu Looks to Changing Africa for New ’Israeli’ Allies

Local Editor

Four decades after his brother was killed during a military operation in Uganda, "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is embarking on an African mission of his own -- but with very different aims.

Galvanized by a growing demand for "Israeli" security assistance and his government's search for new allies, Netanyahu has put a fresh focus on improving ties with African nations.

Part of his push involves a planned visit to the continent around the 40th anniversary of the July 1976 hostage rescue operation that resulted in his brother's death.

His itinerary has not yet been released, though Netanyahu said he has accepted an invitation to visit the continent from African leaders. Among them is the president of Kenya, with which "Israel" has strong ties, and a visit to that country seems likely.

""Israel" is coming back to Africa; Africa is coming back to "Israel"," Netanyahu recently told lawmakers and African ambassadors.

He noted his visit would be around the anniversary of the military operation.

Economic progress in many African countries had begun to change the dynamics, while the threat of Takfiri extremism in parts of the continent has left governments in search of advanced defense technology.

Certain countries would be especially keen to benefit from "Israeli" agricultural and water technology, said Naeem Jeenah, head of the South Africa-based Afro-Middle East Center research institute.

"The manner in which "Israel" has presented itself to these governments is in terms of huge opportunities," Jeenah said, adding that he believed "many countries" would be interested.

Netanyahu's planned trip, the first by an "Israeli" premier to Africa since Yitzhak Rabin visited Casablanca in 1994, is a culmination of years of rapprochement.

It is also an opportunity for the "Israeli" entity to further deepen business ties with the economically growing African states in fields in which it possesses expertise.

The "Israeli" regime hopes as well to gain more diplomatic support from African nations at the various UN bodies, where it faces harsh criticism over its occupation of the besieged West Bank and blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team