Chad to open embassy in Israel on Thursday, Netanyahu says - Reuters Yonah Jeremy Bob

 

by Reuters Yonah Jeremy Bob

The Chadian leader is in Israel at the moment and will officiate at the inauguration of the embassy, whose location was not clear.

 

Chadian President Mahamat Deby and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

(photo credit: KOBI GIDEON/GPO)

Chad will inaugurate on Thursday an embassy in Israel, building on bilateral relations that were established five years ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said.

The announcement on Wednesday came as Chadian President Mahamat Deby's office said he was on a 48-hour Israel visit.

Deby made the announcement during a ceremony in which he planted an olive tree "of peace and brotherhood" in the Grove of Nations in Jerusalem.

The location of the embassy is unclear

The statement from N'Djamena did not provide further details on Deby's agenda. Netanyahu's office said the Chadian leader would officiate at the embassy inauguration.

It was not immediately clear where the embassy would be located.

Meeting of Chadian President Mahamat Deby and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. (credit: KOBI GIDEON/GPO)

Most countries keep embassies in Tel Aviv, Israel's commercial metropolis. Israel deems Jerusalem as its capital, but this status has not won wider international recognition.

Israel and Chad resumed ties in 2018 following a visit to Jerusalem by then-President Idriss Deby.

The Muslim-majority African country had previously scaled down relations in protest at Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory in a 1967 war.

The trip is the first to Israel for Deby, who took over after his father died in 2021.

Netanyahu has cast the upgrade of relations with Chad as part of his outreach to Arab and Muslim countries, which he wants to expand.

Deby later attend a celebratory event at Mossad headquarters where Mossad Director David Barnea said, "The Republic of Chad is another important Muslim state on the African continent with which the State of Israel is building diplomatic relations. Broadening the circle of partner nations is an important goal for the long-term strategy of the State of Israel."

Chadian President Mahamat Deby in Jerusalem on February 2, 2023 (credit: RAFI BEN HAKON/KKL-JNF ARCHIVE)

"My hope is that additional leaders in the Middle East and Africa will gain inspiration from this important agreement and will also make progress in their relations with Israel," said Barnea.

The Mossad chief added, "The Mossad will continue to act with all of its abilities to open and progress connections with any state or leader with which the State of Israel has an interest to strive for a peace deal."

Reuters Yonah Jeremy Bob

Source: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-730283

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