Israeli-Nigerian Relations - Bilateral diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Israel [1] . Nigeria's ambassador to Israel is David Oladipo Obasa. [2]
| Israeli-Nigerian Relations | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||
| |||||
Content
History
Establishing relationships and breaking them up
Diplomatic relations between the countries were established in 1960 . [3] Relations were good enough and during this period, in the 1960s and early 1970s, Israeli specialists in agriculture, industry, and medicine came to Nigeria. Nigerian farmers, doctors and engineers trained in Israel [4] . In an effort to reduce its dependence on the UK, Nigeria diversified its sources of military purchases, which resulted in the active development of its military-economic relations with Israel [5] .
On the other hand, in the outbreak of civil war in Nigeria in 1967, Israel, while supporting official Nigeria, was unable to fully support the Nigerian government. The reason for this was the topic of genocide, which was painful for Jews. The rebels actively used the Igbo theme of genocide by the Nigerian authorities, sometimes drawing parallels with the Holocaust . In particular, the leaders of the self-proclaimed Biafra regarded the possible reunion with Nigeria as "anyway, as forcing Jews to return to the Reich" [6] . At a certain stage of the military conflict, Israel carried out a limited supply of weapons to Biafra , using the Ivory Coast as a transit buyer [7] . At the same time, the main course to prevent the deterioration of diplomatic relations with Nigeria was maintained. Israeli-Nigerian relations remained in force after the civil war in Nigeria [8] .
However, in 1973 , after the Doomsday War , the Organization of African Unity recommended that its members break off diplomatic relations with Israel. Following pan-African policies, Nigeria severed diplomatic relations with the Jewish state. Informal Israeli-Nigerian relations continued to exist, supported by the efforts of intelligence and private individuals. The economic ties between the two countries also remained strong: Israeli experts continued to visit Nigeria, and Nigerian students studied in Israel [4] . The export of weapons from Israel to Nigeria during this period also continued [9] .
Re-establishing Relationships
Diplomatic relations were restored in September 1992. Since April 1993, the Israeli Embassy has been operating in Abuja, and the Nigerian Embassy has been opened in Tel Aviv. [3] More than fifty Israeli firms operate in Nigeria in the areas of construction, infrastructure, high technology, communications and IT, agriculture and water management. In turn, over 5,000 Nigerian firms and organizations operate in Israel. [10] The Israel Institute of Export and International Cooperation, the Nigerian-Israeli Chamber of Commerce (NICC) and the Israeli-African Chamber of Commerce contribute to trade development.
In 2003, the Nigerian-Israeli Friendship Society was founded in Lagos . This event was attended by 2,000 people [11] .
In 2006, the Nigerian-Israeli business forum was opened in Abuja . In the same year, the foreign ministers of both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding in which Israel and Nigeria agree to consult with each other on issues of bilateral reactions and other regional and international affairs, based on joint interests. The first round of consultations took place in Jerusalem in November 2006. [12]
In 2009, a bilateral trade agreement was signed between Nigeria and Israel [4] .
Nigeria is ranked 25th in terms of exports from Israel: 367 million US dollars (2012, not including diamonds). The total trade turnover between the two countries in 2012 amounted to 370 million US dollars (not including diamonds). Nigeria is Israel's largest trading partner in Africa. [13]
In 2013, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan became the first President of Nigeria to visit the State of Israel. He made a pilgrimage and signed a bilateral air service agreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. [14]
In June 2014, when Israeli teenagers were abducted , before they were killed, Nigerian President Guldak Jonathan wrote to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu: “... I assure you that we are in solidarity with you, since we believe that any terrorist act against any nation or group of people is an act against humanity. We unconditionally condemn this vile act and demand that children be unconditionally released by their captors. ” [15]
In October 2014, President Jonathan made a private visit to Israel and made pilgrimages to holy places. Nevertheless, 20 ministers and officials accompanied him on the trip. At the end of the year, Nigeria supported Israel at a vote in the UN Security Council, which did not adopt a pro-Palestinian resolution. Prime Minister Netanyahu called the President of Nigeria, Jonathan, and thanked him for that. Israel also supported Rwanda in this vote. [sixteen]
In 2015, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mining and Agriculture (NACCIMA) joined forces with Israeli businessmen to improve the Nigerian non-oil sector and diversify the single-product economy to improve trade relations between the two countries. [17]
In May 2017, the Israeli Embassy in Nigeria founded the Israeli Care for Children football league for 225 Nigerian children aged 8-12 who were affected by the activities of the Boko Haram terrorist group. The Israeli ambassador to Nigeria, Guy Feldman, saved the funds allocated to the embassy for the celebration of Israeli Independence Day and sent them to buy balls, uniforms and pay coaches so that young Nigerians could join the football. [18] [19]
Links
Notes
- ↑ Israel and Nigeria strive to improve relations, Jerusalem Post
- ↑ Nigerian Embassy in Tel-Aviv
- ↑ 1 2 Israel's Diplomatic Missions Abroad . Israeli MFA . Date of treatment January 26, 2008.
- ↑ 1 2 3 Israeli-Nigerian relations
- ↑ The Story of Biafra by Frederick Forsyth
- ↑ " Civil War in Nigeria Archived October 19, 2013 at Wayback Machine ", www.conflictologist.org, 2006.
- ↑ "International and Middle East Relations of Israel", lecture course at Ariel University (Israel). Lecture number 19: Israeli-African relations in 1957-1973.
- ↑ Kwame Boafo Arthur and E. Gyimah-Boadi, Africa's evolving relations with Israel, in Israel and Africa, Assessing the past envisioning the Future, May 2006
- ↑ Naomi Chazan, Israel and Africa: Challanges for a new era, pages 4-5, in Israel and Africa, Assessing the past envisioning the Future, May 2006
- ↑ Nigeria: Israel's Staunchest African Ally-Global Agenda Date of treatment July 7, 2015.
- ↑ Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Heb.)
- ↑ Israel-Nigeria relations
- ↑ Central Statistical Bureau of Israel.
- ↑ Peres hosts Nigerian president for first-ever state visit .
- ↑ Nigerian leader decries 'dastardly' kidnapping of teens .
- ↑ PM thanks African leaders for thwarting Palestinian UN bid
- ↑ Nigeria, Israel strengthen non-oil ties
- ↑ The Israeli Embassy in Nigeria has established a football team for the victims of Boko Haram
- ↑ Israel's envoy to Nigeria funds refugee children's soccer league with Independence Day fund