JERUSALEM: Chad opened its first embassy in Israel, four years after the countries renewed ties following a decades-long rupture. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office called the embassy’s inauguration in Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv “a historic moment”.
Netanyahu said, “We are strengthening our friendship and our common interests in pursuing peace, security and prosperity,”
Chad’s embassy is in Ramat Gan, a town abutting Tel Aviv, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said. “This is a great day, an historic day for Chad and for Israel, too,” Deby said in a videotape of the inauguration.
the Diplomatic Relations
Netanyahu said in 2020 that he had discussed “the possibility of opening an embassy in Jerusalem” with a Chadian delegation. In a 2019 visit to Chad, Netanyahu and Deby announced a resumption of diplomatic relations.
Israel recognized Chad when it declared independence from France in 1960 and by 1962 had opened an embassy in Ndjamena. Ties between Israel and Chad were broken in 1972 amid pressure from Muslim African nations. The Arab-Israeli wars of 1967 and 1973 led a number of African states to sever relations with the Jewish state.
But in recent years, Israel has highlighted areas of cooperation ranging from security to technology and agriculture to improve ties on the continent.
Netanyahu has made broadening Israelis ties across the Arab and Muslim world a foreign policy. Chad is not an Arab League member state but belongs to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It is also one of the world’s poorest countries.
“I offer a prayer to God that, with the formal opening of our embassy here, relations between our countries will bring value to both peoples, yours and ours.”
Standing beside the Chadian president, Netanyahu said: “We are strengthening our friendship, and our common interest in pursuing peace, security and prosperity.”
