Netanyahu Scores Diplomatic Breakthrough At West Africa Summit
Image by Getty Images
By Dave Goldiner June 4, 2017
Benjamin Netanyahu scored a diplomatic breakthrough when he attended a summit of West African states — and held a series of meetings with leaders.
The Israeli premier jetted into Liberia for a historic speech to the gathering of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), chalking up a new success in an effort to woo countries that have been hostile to the Jewish state.
“Israel is coming back to Africa in a big way,” Netanyahu said, trumpeting a series of meetings with leaders, including some with Muslim majorities.
He boasted that Israel was on its way to ending African nations’ knee-jerk support for the Palestinians at the United Nations and other international forums.
Along with diplomatic meetings, Netanyahu signed a raft of agreements designed to expand business and aid cooperation with countries in the region, especially in the field of combating desertificaion.
Netanyahu has spearheaded a push to improve ties with Africa, where some states, especially in East Africa, see the Jewish state as a powerful economic partner and a friend in the battle against radical Islamic groups.
A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse..
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
