| Israel is a political economic and military power in the Middle East, which has been carrying out positive diplomatic activities with African countries to break away from the international isolated situation since its foundation in 1948. Although African countries in the 1960s were weak, they had many political votes in some international organizations such as UN, which was so valuable for Israel. Since 1956 a link has been established between Israel and the African continent, and the development of Israel-Africa relations can be divided into four phases:Establishment and Development (1956-1973), Informal Period (1974-1982), Slow Recovery (1983-1993), Overall Recovery Period (1994-2006).The development of Israel-Africa relations in 1960s was a two-way choice, and Israel was the leader. Israel in 1960s was developing diplomatic relations actively with African countries, and had established diplomatic relations with 32 countries in the heyday and hence entered a golden period. In this period, Israel spread a huge diplomatic net in Africa. The most outstanding was the assistance project toward Africa, which Israel sent its prominent experts to Africa, such as agriculture, community development, medical treatment, water resources and architecture. Meanwhile, African countries also sent students to Israel. For Israel's assistance, African countries paid back a lot in the international community, with supporting Israel in the international organizations particularly. The development made Israel get rid of the bottleneck of political isolation. However, the 6-day war in 1967 and the Yom Kippur War in 1973 changed the friendly relations. African countries openly supported the Arab world and opposed Israel.In 1973 the diplomatic relations between Israel and Africa collapsed, with only Lesotho. Swaziland, Malawi and South Africa keeping the diplomatic relations with Israel after the Yom Kippur War. Since then, Israel-Africa relations entered a period of informal relations. In the public, African countries were against Israel, but their connection did not break off. Instead, their economic trades and cultural exchanges were not reduced but increased. The trend of government-led development was weakened, and the private sectors and businessmen began to become Israel's important links with African countries. With the ongoing Middle East peace process, their relationship began to ease. Egyptian President Anwar Sadat's 1977 trip to Jerusalem and Egypt's peace treaty in the 1979 provided a new platform for the recovery of the relationship.In May of 1982, Zaire became the first African country to restore relations with Israel; since then, Israel-Africa relations entered the Slow Recovery Period. In the late 1970s the economic crisis occurred in Israel and instability in Africa was increasing, therefore the Israeli's diplomatic focus shifted to Asia and the West world. However, relations between Israel and racist South Africa were heating up, which caused the anger of African countries. Therefore, recovery of diplomatic relations could not be as fast as that in the 1960s. Although Israel-Africa diplomatic relations was recovered, their political relations remained in a balanced situation, with both sides losing the enthusiasm as that in the 1960s. The privatization of Israel-Africa relations was still the dominant trend.Since 1990s the African continent has gradually improved. Politically it was stable and democratic; economically it developed well, and meanwhile a large number of oil and metals resources were also found in the African continent. Thus, the African continent gradually caused national attention and it could be said that it became a barometer of national strength. Israel certainly could not ignore it. Since the 1990s Israel and the African countries has maintained friendly relations. |
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