On 20 January 2019, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, travelled to Nyamena with a view to re-establishing diplomatic relations between Chad and his country.
Chad’s President, Idriss Deby, visited Israel on 25 November. Deby congratulated Netanyahu on this step, although he made it clear that this did not change his support for the Palestinians.
Almost all countries of Africa and the Middle East cut off diplomatic relations with Israel at the end of the war of October 1973 – the so called “War of Yom Kipur”. However, in light of the Israeli aggression against Lebanon in 2006 and against Syria in 2011, Israel is unfolding a diplomatic offensive in the Persian Gulf and Africa.
This Israeli diplomatic offensive is counting on NATO support, whilst Russia is making great strides in Libya, Sudan and Chad.
The next African country to re-establish diplomatic relations with Israel will probably be Mali, today governed by President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta.