Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Wednesday in Jerusalem with President of Chad Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, who is in Israel to dedicate his country's embassy.
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In January 2019, Netanyahu and previous Chadian President Idriss Deby agreed on the resumption of diplomatic relations at a ceremony in N'djamena. Chad had severed ties with Israel in 1972 due to pressure from Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi.
Netanyahu told the visiting leader on Wednesday, "Israel and Chad established relations between our two countries with your late father. It is in our view a tremendously important relationship with a major country in the heart of Africa. It is something that we want to carry to new levels, new heights, and your visit here in Israel and the opening of the embassy is a reflection of that.
He added, "We believe that our cooperation can help not only advance our relations, but it is also part of Israel's coming back to Africa and Africa coming back to Israel. We have common goals of security, prosperity and stability."
The two leaders are slated to hold a private meeting and then an expanded one being attended by, among others, Israel's Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Mossad Director David Barnea, National Security Council Director Tzachi Hanegbi, and Chad's Foreign Minister Mahamat Saleh Annadif and Defense Minister Daoud Yaya Brahim.
Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.
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