Netanyahu eyes Africa at UNGA, makes moves on Malawi, South Sudan
3 Min Read
The Israeli Prime Minister's office says he has extended invitations to the leaders of Malawi and South Sudan to visit "Tel Aviv."
-
The UN logo is seen on a door at the United Nations headquarters ahead of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. (AFP)
Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has engaged in talks on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly UNGA in New York on Wednesday with a number of African leaders, most notably the Presidents of Malawi and South Sudan, Lazarus Chakwera and Salva Kiir, respectively.
In an official statement released by Netanyahu's office, it was revealed that he expressed the entity's interest in developing a multifaceted relationship with African countries, and underscored the importance of collaboration in various sectors, including innovation, agriculture, food security, and water resources.
"The Prime Minister is resolute in his commitment to strengthening ties with African nations and fostering greater cooperation in crucial domains," the statement quoted. "He emphasized Israel's readiness to engage in partnerships that can contribute significantly to the stability and prosperity of Africa."
Read more: 'Israel', worried by Raisi's Africa trip, sends FM on his heels
During the discussions, Netanyahu extended invitations to Presidents Chakwera and Kiir to visit "Israel," and both leaders responded positively, expressing their willingness to accept the invitation, his office claimed.
As the occupation's PM continues his diplomatic endeavors at the UN General Assembly, the discussions surrounding "Israel's" engagement with African nations are likely to remain a topic of debate among international observers, given the entity's long record of occupying Palestinian lands, mass murdering Palestinians and enforcing an inhumane siege on several regions in Palestine, in top of which are Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Read more: World Bank: Israeli restrictions have dire impacts on Palestinians
Furthermore, decades-long Israeli attempts to infiltrate the African continent did not yield the desired outcome by the entity.
In February, a 2021 decision by the African Union to grant the occupation entity an observer status was revoked after a wave of criticism and opposition among member countries and other Arab and Muslim nations, most strongly from Algeria and South Africa. This move came despite the pressure "Tel Aviv" exerted on African states to accept it as an observer member of the AU.
But that did not stop the unwanted party from trying to slip its way in.
During the February AU summit, an Israeli delegation was caught sneaking into the conference and was subsequently kicked out. In response to the incident, Israeli media reported then, citing the Israeli occupation Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that "the incident would be taken very seriously," accusing a "small number of extremist countries such as Algeria and South Africa" of taking the African organization hostage, claiming their measures as being "driven by hatred."
