The first wave of decolonisation saw African countries and Israel establishing relations on the basis of shared diplomatic missions. These links evolved significantly, reflecting international events and Israel’s emergence as a major power in the Middle East. Its new stature, confirmed by the Six-Day War (1967) and that of Yom Kippur (1973), together with the echoes of the Cold War on the continent, put an end to this mutual attraction; a notable exception to this is South Africa, whose relationship with Israel has, however, long been overrated. It is only since the 1990s that a more normal situation between African countries and Israel has started to emerge.
The Past and Present of Israel's Attraction for Black Africa
If one considers only the close and solid (even if often only alleged) links between Israel and the United States, or its trade links with Europe and the Far East, it is easy to forget that one of the diplomatic and strategic priorities of the country since independence has been black Africa. The close attention which Israel has paid and continues to pay to its neighbouring continent has three principal characteristics: its economic, diplomatic and strategic interests.(1)
Israel’s Geopolitical Motivations
From an economic point of view, and starting with the independence of the African nations themselves, it was a priority to position Israel in an emerging and potentially very profitable market. Between 1958 and 1960 some 20 countries, many blessed with significant natural resources, appear on the list. In some cases their solvency was even guaranteed by their former colonial powers. The first contracts concerned agricultural techniques (notably irrigation), education and technical military aid. Israel’s side of the bargain was to be able to import primary products such as fruit, cocoa and diamonds. Prior to the rupture caused by the Yom Kippur War in October 1973, Israel had 28 African commercial partners, supported by some 2,800 Israeli experts working on 67 development projects with a modest turnover of some tens of millions of dollars–but with a positive balance of payments for Israel. In 2006 it is now the Israeli consortium Africa Israel which takes the lead in its technical and economic relationship with black Africa.
On the political level, it was the sudden influx of African votes in the UN General Assembly which was particularly interesting to Israel. During the 1960s the Arab-Communist grouping became increasingly virulent in its anti-Israel resolutions; over and above simple arithmetic (the African states did not vote as a bloc), it was a question of forging friendships which would eventually guarantee African non-alignment with the Arab states.
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