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.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

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.

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

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. We’re near the end of our Passover Fundraising Drive, and we have a very ambitious goal of $127,000 by April 21.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a Passover gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Make a Passover Gift Today!

$90 $180

$360

Other amount