Africa Day: Israel’s key role in African Union | The Citizen

On Africa Day, it is important to think about the future of the African Union (AU) and the people of Africa.

In a previous opinion piece published in 2021, I submitted that the entry israel The disagreement with at least four of the 55 African countries, despite observer status in the African Union, was an important recognition of Israel’s strategic centrality to African countries.

supervisor position

I argued that Israel’s induction of observer status should serve as a clear invitation to those disenfranchised African countries to engage in Israel-Africa engagement and enjoy increased cooperation between the African and Israeli communities.

disappointingly, judging by AU Israel’s observer status in February was promulgated in error, deliberately and without recognizing the enduring historical and developmental dimensions between Israeli and African communities, which date back to the 15th century and biblical scriptures.

There is no doubt that to date, Israeli organizations are operating in almost all African countries, working harmoniously with their African counterparts to implement socio-economic assistance programs that support community livelihoods across the continent. help maintain.

israeli program

These are far-reaching and go as far to include food security programs in semi-arid and semi-arid regions in African countries, such as in the Turkana region of Kenya.

Closer to home, an Israeli program working in South Africa recently restored access to clean water for 500 000 South Africans. The recent century has also seen a global increase in sustainable development in Africa, including increased interest from countries such as the United States and China.

Nevertheless, the enduring Israel-Africa historical connection has resulted in a renewed interest by Israeli leaders to continue supporting Africa’s sustainable community-based development projects through the use of Israeli technology and innovation.

It is well known that on 22 September 2016, the Prime Minister benjamin netanyahu And Israel’s former UN ambassador, Danny Danon, met with African leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss ways to support Israeli innovations in Africa.

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African countries

Netanyahu told the leaders that “Africa excites our imagination; We would like to propose friendship and partnership with each of your countries.”

On 8 December 2016, a Joint Declaration on Friendship was signed in Jerusalem between the Jewish International Development Agency, MASHAW, and the West African Economic Community ECOWAS, to promote bilateral agricultural cooperation in line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Could ,

The meeting between Netanyahu and Danon, in essence, I still believe, reflects the commitment of Israeli and Jewish political leaders to an Africa-Israel engagement partnership based on the enduring historicity between the Jewish and African communities.

technology

The Africa-Israel engagement seeks to improve sustainability and social equity through the promotion of more accessible agricultural technology in poverty-stricken, drought- and hunger-stricken areas, to reduce poverty, build sustainable communities, and re-empower Promotion of entrepreneurship as a key tool. Environment is the best way to tackle the challenges of poverty and job creation in African countries.

The decision ignored the positive effects of historical Jewish-African engagement, with a particular focus on broader socio-economic issues, such as agricultural technology transfer to improve food security, irrigation systems – including water – and sanitation. .

This decision is misguided to the extent that it hinders the ability of many meaningful Africans to engage in an exchange of views on the beneficial importance of Israel-Africa engagement on food security, nutrition, water, sanitation and technology transfer in African countries. Is.

Future

The future of our continent, for which current leaders will not be held accountable, should not be shaped by the decisions of our current political leaders, who lack effective foresight for Africa’s future.

Finalizing Israel’s Observer Status AU should be implemented. And we should encourage all African countries to join the call for increased engagement between Israel and Africa so that our peoples can benefit from a historic and developmental collaboration between the African and Israeli communities.

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