This meticulously researched new book from author Arye Oded analyzes Israel’s complex relationship with African countries from the time period of the 1950s to the present day. There are three broad phases. The first, from the 1950s-the “honeymoon” period-began as African countries started to gain independence and Israel was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with them. This included offering assistance in various fields, especially in new agricultural technology and water management to ensure food security and reduce the poverty and hunger suffered by many African countries. In her activities in Africa, Israel emphasized the importance of training manpower in different fields. By 2015, more than 20,000 African students had taken part in courses in Israel. The second period-disengagement-began in October 1973 during the Yom Kippur War, when almost all sub-Saharan Africa broke off relations with Israel out of solidarity with Egypt, one of the founders of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). The third period-renewal-began in 1982 when many African countries decided to benefit again from Israel’s innovative abilities in many areas and, in this way, to enjoy assistance from both Israel and Arab countries. Today Israel has diplomatic relations with 41 African countries, and the continent forms a key part of Israeli security, economic, and diplomatic strategy. The epilogue describes Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s June 2016 visit to five East African countries, his plan to visit West Africa, and the main reasons for these visits. No-one is better placed than Dr Oded to analyse Israel’s complex relationship with African countries from the 1950s to the present day. He worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Malawi; in the 1990s was Israel’s ambassador to Swaziland, Lesotho, Kenya, and Zambia, and is currently the Head of the Africa Unit at the Truman Research Institute of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
