“We need to further regional and worldwide cooperation” against it, Netanyahu, the presidents of Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, South Sudan and Rwanda and the prime minister of Ethiopia said in a communique quoted by Ugandan state broadcaster UBC.
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He is expected in Kenya today before he arrives in Kigali tomorrow and winds up his tour in Ethiopia on Thursday. The bilateral deal was signed in Kigali by Israeli Minister for Foreign Affairs Avigdor Lieberman and his Rwandan counterpart Louise Mushikiwabo. During his visit, the two heads of state affirmed the close relations between the two countries.
But he assured that the wait in traffic was worth it following the glad tidings that the visit has brought to Kenyans in the interest of development.
Majority of Lieberman’s entourage were business people seeking investment opportunities and joint ventures with Rwandans.
Indeed, in March 2015, Cabinet named Col Joseph Rutabana as Rwanda’s Ambassador to Israel.
Speaking on a visit to Africa, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu called reports of a police investigation into whether he received illegal funding as “nonsense” and attacked the Israeli media.
Still, some Ugandans say Netanyahu’s historic visit should be a moment to mourn the Ugandan victims of the operation. The notion of granting Israel this status once again has been promoted by Jerusalem for a long while now, and is regarded as being of high importance. “It is also important for the countries of Africa”, he said.
On the eve of Netanyahu’s tour Israel announced a relatively modest $13 million (12 million euro) aid package to strengthen economic ties and cooperation with African countries.
A regional Heads of State and Government Summit on counter terrorism between the State of Israel and Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Zambia, South Sudan and Tanzania, has resolved to enhance efforts to fight and decisively defeat terrorism in all its forms because of the threat it poses to worldwide peace and security. In the 1960s the Arab-Israeli conflict drove a wedge between African countries, many of which were embroiled in liberation struggles, and the Jewish state. “I believe that this meeting will be seen as a turning point in Israel’s ability to reach a broad number of African countries, which is our goal”.
As a key US ally on regional security, especially in violence-prone Somalia, Uganda is an attractive ally for Israel as well, according to Mr. Izama.
Demand is rising for Israel’s defence expertise and products.
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In exchange for its expertise in security and other fields, Israel wants African states to side with it at the United Nations, where the General Assembly overwhelmingly recognized Palestine as a nonmember observer state in 2012.
