Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed Thursday that during his tour of Africa this week he spoke with a leader of a Muslim African country that has no diplomatic ties with Israel. Netanyahu, who was scheduled to return to Israel on Friday, also said the two have agreed to meet. It is believed Netanyahu was referring to Chad's President Idriss Deby. Netanyahu's historic and successful visit to the continent covered four countries in four days: Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia. On Thursday, Netanyahu met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn. The two discussed Avera Mengistu, an Israeli of Ethiopian descent who is believed to be held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. "I asked for his help on this matter," Netanyahu said Thursday. Netanyahu also addressed the Ethiopian parliament, where he received thunderous applause. It was the first visit by an Israeli prime minister to the African nation in some 30 years. "Today I am proud to announce that Israel is coming back to Africa in a big way," Netanyahu said, noting that the two countries share "bonds of history, of values, and increasingly, bonds of interest." He also compared the Jewish struggle for independence to the plight of Ethiopians. "The struggle for freedom unites our two nations," he said. Throughout his speech, Netanyahu touted Israel's technological achievements and said the Jewish state was keen to spread that knowledge. "This is the question I ask everywhere I go: Which cow produces more milk per cow in the world? You think it is a Dutch cow? You think it is a French cow? It's not, it's an Israeli cow. And soon it could be an Ethiopian cow," he said. Netanyahu said he would like his visit to usher in a new era of cooperation between the countries. "This is my vision for our cooperation: to have Ethiopian farmers enjoy the benefits of Israeli know-how, working together with us ... to have water channeled to every direction that you want and wasted very little, technology, education and medicine," he said. "Israel is an innovative nation but we are willing and eager to share our experience with you because we believe in our partnership. I believe Ethiopia is on the rise, and we believe your industries are growing and innovative, and your influence is spreading. We seek to deepen our ties with you because when we work together both of our people are better off." Netanyahu also said Israel would like to keep expanding its presence in Africa, to the benefit of all countries. "I want to see Israeli embassies spread throughout the continent and I want to see every African country represented in an embassy in Israel. This is a vision that we believe in," he said. Netanyahu also talked about the biblical rapport between King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba and the integration of the Jews of Ethiopian descent in Israel. He spoke of the Ethiopian-Israeli flight attendants who flew with him and said they were proud of their dual heritage. "Our friendship is ever-deepening. Ethiopia is on the rise, Africa is on the rise, and the friendship between us is soaring to new heights. May God bless Ethiopia, may God bless Israel, may God bless our friendship," Netanyahu said. He also promised that the next visit by an Israeli prime minister would take place well before another 30 years elapses. After stepping down from the podium, Netanyahu received a standing ovation. Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, were also given a tour of the National Museum of Ethiopia, where they were accompanied by Ethiopia's Culture Minister, engineer Ayisha Mohammed. Netanyahu also met Thursday with Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome, who showed Netanyahu the lion and lioness roaming in the presidential garden. Inside the presidential palace, Netanyahu posed next to a stuffed lion. Anyone present there could feel the effect the lions had, not just as a symbol of the country, but as a reminder that Ethiopia's role as a regional powerhouse goes a long way back. Later in the day, Netanyahu took part in the Ethio-Israeli Business Summit along with the Ethiopian prime minister and businesspeople from both countries. Some 300 people attended the forum, including ministers and other high-ranking government officials, as well as CEOs from the private sector. "I have really come here to suggest to you a simple thing, actually to ask you to do one thing: Invest in Ethiopia, invest in Africa. And I say to our Ethiopian friends: Invest in Israeli know-how, invest in Israeli companies," Netanyahu told the crowd. "This is a partnership made in heaven. It has a long history, but more importantly, it has a brilliant future. Invest in each other. "And when I say Israel, I don't just mean the government; I mean before the government and far more important than the government, our private firms, who have developed in Israel in these and other areas. Ultimately we want the business-to-business and business-to-government connections, with the support of the Israeli government. The support could come in various ways, but the most important thing is to bring this assembly to bear so people can see: Here's a government that seeks your business, is open for business, wants your business; and here's a government that pushes you through the door, encourages you to go there and will support you in going there." The Ethiopian prime minister thanked Netanyahu for helping Ethiopia secure a seat on the U.N. Security Council. Ethiopia will become a non-permanent member of the council on Jan. 1, 2017, for a two-year term.
Credit: Government Press Office
Muslim countries in Africa, such as Mauritania and Mali, have been grappling with the threat of Islamic terrorism and are seeking cooperation on the matter. Chad has presumably shown interest in learning from Israel in the battle against terrorism.
