A new setback for Netanyahu policy

The thirty -eighth African Summit in Addis Ababa, which was held last month, witnessed the African leaders a strict stance towards Israel, debating its attacks on Gaza, describing it as “genocide”, and calling for stopping all forms of cooperation with it until the end of the occupation.

The closing statement also affirmed the refusal of the forced displacement of the Palestinians, while stressing the two -state solution as a single peace path, which reflects Africa’s historical commitment to support the Palestinian cause, despite Israel’s attempts to enhance its influence in the continent.

This African position came as a setback for Israel despite the great American pressure that it exerted on the brown continent, where Washington exerted extensive pressure on a number of African capitals to prevent severe decisions against Israel, especially through the threat to reduce economic aid to some countries, and pushing them towards not taking escalatory positions in international forums.

However, the African countries showed a remarkable diplomatic cohesion, as they refused to comply with Western dictates and emphasized their independent position, which reflects a change in the balance of power and the continent’s desire to adopt decisions in line with its principles against colonialism and racist chapter.

Decisions are made in the African Union, which includes 54 countries, through the Union Conference, which is held annually in February and includes heads of state and governments, where decisions are made unanimously or by a two -thirds majority. The Executive Council, consisting of foreign ministers, plays a role in drafting policies and raising them for approval.

History of relations between Africa and Israel

Relations between Israel and Africa have witnessed radical transformations over the past decades, as Israel has sought, since the 1950s and 1960s, to enhance its presence in the continent, taking advantage of many African countries to obtain independence.

Israel has established diplomatic ties with countries such as Ghana and Liberia, and participated in development projects, especially in the fields of agriculture, technology, and education. It also provided support for a number of African liberation movements, in an effort to gain political influence within the continent, and to ensure its support in international forums.

However, this rapprochement witnessed a sharp setback after the October 1973 war, as the Arab oil embargo and the diplomatic pressures led by the League of Arab States cut off most African countries to cut their relations with Israel, which led to the collapse of Israeli influence on the continent.

However, this isolation did not last long, as the 1993 Oslo agreement represented a turning point, as Israel began to restore its relations with a number of African countries, taking advantage of the international openness that accompanied the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations.

After signing the Oslo agreement between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel, a conviction emerged among some African countries that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is on its way to a diplomatic settlement, which led it to reassess its relations with Israel.

As a result, many African countries, especially in the west and east of the continent, have restored diplomatic relations with Israel, focusing on cooperation in the fields of agriculture, technology, and security.

Israel has benefited from this trend to enhance its existence, as it worked to provide technical and training support in several strategic sectors within Africa.

In recent years, diplomatic relations have increased between Israel and Africa, as Tel Aviv has official relations with 40 African countries out of 54, and runs 10 active embassies on the continent, including prominent countries such as: South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Cameroon.

The recent Arab normalization wave, especially after Abraham’s agreements (2020), played a role in strengthening this expansion, as Arab countries that have a relationship with Israel encouraged some African governments to enhance cooperation with them in the areas of security, investment and agriculture.

Despite these developments, many African countries are still conservative to strengthen their relations with Israel; Because of its commitment to support the Palestinian issue.

The countries that have suffered from colonialism and racist separation, such as South Africa, lead the position rejecting the reinforcement of the relationship with Israel, considering that the Israeli policies towards the Palestinians reflect the practices of the apartheid that the continent witnessed in the past. This division makes the relationship between Israel and Africa a hostage between economic interests and political and historical considerations.

Establishing tension after the war on Gaza

Relations between Israel and the African Union witnessed a sharp escalation after the Israeli attack on Gaza in October 2023, which resulted in tens of thousands of civilian victims and widespread infrastructure destruction, including hospitals, schools, and roads.

This aggression sparked widespread dissatisfaction in Africa, where many countries have issued strong condemnation statements, renewing their solidarity with the Palestinian people and their rejection of Israeli policies.

This situation was not surprising, but rather an extension of an escalating African rejection of the Israeli penetration on the continent. In February 2023, during the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, the Israeli delegation was expelled after strong objections from South Africa, Algeria and Nigeria, which constituted a major diplomatic blow to Israel inside the continent, and led to the withdrawal of the observer that it had obtained in 2021.

Despite Israel’s attempts to enhance its presence in Africa through investments and development projects, these endeavors collide with political and moral considerations firmly in the African position.

The continent has remained faithful to its militant history against colonialism and racist chapter, considering the Palestinian issue an extension of its struggle for freedom and justice, which enhances its adoption of firm positions against the Israeli occupation, regardless of the potential economic interests.

Causes of tense relationship

Despite the increasing Israeli investments in Africa and Tel Aviv attempts to enhance their influence through projects in agriculture, technology, security and infrastructure, many African countries are still taking critical positions towards Israeli policies, especially with regard to the Palestinian issue.

Israel has focused on developing irrigation and solar technologies, expanding communications and artificial intelligence projects, as well as selling monitoring and weapons systems to some African governments. It also invested in infrastructure and health services to expand its regional partnerships.

But these economic endeavors did not succeed in making a fundamental change in the positions of African countries, for several reasons, the most important of which are:

This legacy enhances the feeling of deep solidarity with the Palestinians, who face similar situations because of the colonialism and racial repression that the continent’s people have suffered.

This perspective was evident in the positions of countries such as South Africa, which described the Israeli occupation as a “new racist separation system”, which prompted it to file a lawsuit before the International Court of Justice against Israel on charges of “genocide” in Gaza.

• Popular and civil solidarity with Palestine increased

Popular awareness in Africa has grown significantly, which led to the escalation of solidarity and boycott campaigns against Israel.

In countries such as South Africa and Nigeria, recent years have witnessed the organization of widespread demonstrations and events that supported the rights of the Palestinians, and denounced Israeli violations.

As a result, popular pressure has become a major factor that forces African governments to adopt more firm positions towards Israel, despite the possible economic benefits of cooperating with it.

• Geopolitical balance and reduce dependence on the West

Africa is witnessing a growing shift towards diversifying its international alliances, as it strengthens its relations with world powers such as China and Russia, which reduces its dependence on Western countries that provide unconditional support to Israel.

This shift helps to give African countries a broader political space to adopt independent positions in line with their strategic interests, without undergoing Western pressure.

In this context, Russia and China generally support international decisions condemning Israeli policies, which provides diplomatic support for African countries in adopting more striking positions towards Tel Aviv.

Why remains normalization with Israel with limited influence?

Despite Israel’s attempts to enhance its presence in Africa through investments and economic cooperation, F.AThis normalization is still limited, as Israeli efforts collide with political and historical considerations of African countries.

In addition, some African countries seek to strengthen their alliances with competing international powers for the West, such as China and Russia, which gives them a broader political space to adopt more independent positions in international issues, including the Palestinian issue.

Countries in Africa play a leading role in this field, including:

• South Africa: It led unprecedented legal steps against Israel to file a lawsuit before the International Court of Justice in December 2023, accusing Israel of committing a genocide in Gaza. The court issued emergency orders calling for the cessation of military operations and allowing the entry of humanitarian aid.
• Algeria: It played a prominent role in preventing Israel from obtaining an observer in the African Union, as it denounced the decision issued in July 2021, and led efforts to cooperate with South Africa and Nigeria to suspend the decision in February 2023. Algerian President Abdel -Majid Taboun stressed that any rapprochement with Israel depends on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Although Israel has succeeded in establishing diplomatic relations with 40 African countries out of 54, the impact of this normalization remains limited, as it appeared in the firm position of the last African summit.

The African countries, despite economic interests, still see in Israel an occupying state practicing apartheid policies against the Palestinians, which weakens their diplomatic effectiveness within the continent.

While Israel is seeking to enhance its existence, Africa remains an international balance, where historical positions and new alliances play a major role in determining the future of African-Israeli relations.