Originally published in JNS
A group of three dozen African parliamentarians on Wednesday affirmed Jerusalem as Israel’s undivided capital and pledged to enhance diplomatic, economic and security cooperation with the Jewish state.
The burst of faith-based diplomacy at the two-day inaugural Africa-Israel Parliamentary Summit in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa comes amid a diplomatic tug-of-war in the region between supporters and opponents of Israel.
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A resolution signed by the legislators representing some 25 African nations at the culmination of the event emphasises their commitment to support Israel, condemns Islamic terrorism and pointedly opposes legal action, spearheaded by South Africa, against the Jewish state.
Medialine reports that the resolution, directed at African heads of state, also condemned anti-Zionism as a form of antisemitism and denounced violence against Israel, naming Hamas and Iranian-backed groups. It supported multilateral peace efforts like the Abraham Accords and called for stronger diplomatic and economic ties between Africa and Israel. Additionally, it backed Israel’s observer status in the African Union.
Diplomatic tug of war in Africa
The landmark gathering in the Ethiopian capital comes as South Africa has emerged as one of the fiercest critics of the Jewish state worldwide, having taken Israel to the International Court of Justice, a UN entity, on charges of genocide, writes JNS.
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Israel’s African allies had successfully thwarted an attempt by African countries led by South Africa and Algeria earlier this year to oust Israel from its observer status at the 55-member African Union, alongside other countries such as China, Greece, Kuwait, Mexico, “Palestine,” the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
The African lawmakers attending the event come from Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Two Israeli parliamentarians from the Knesset’s Christian Allies Caucus, Sharren Haskel and Amit Halevi, also took part in the summit.
Many African legislators who attended the conference are members of the Israel Allies Caucuses in their respective parliaments, actively championing pro-Israel legislation through faith-based diplomacy.
With 70% of sub-Saharan Africa’s population under the age of 30, the continent has the world’s youngest population, reports themedialine. Israel, known for its innovation as the “startup nation,” has the technology and expertise to help train this young workforce, paving the way for economic growth in Africa and potential labor benefits for Israel. Strengthening these economic ties could also enhance political relations, potentially boosting Israel’s support in international bodies like the United Nations and the International Criminal Court.
Israel maintains open diplomatic relations with 46 of Africa’s 54 nations. However, most African countries typically do not vote in favor of Israel in international forums.
The Allies Caucuses, whose leaders attended the event, comprises pro-Israel, predominantly Christian lawmakers who support Israel in their respective parliaments, often driven by their Judeo-Christian religious beliefs.
Queen of Sheba Accords
MK Sharren Haskel, co-chair of the Knesset’s Christian Allies Caucus, suggested expanding the Abraham Accords to Africa through a proposed initiative called the “Queen of Sheba Accords.”
“None of us have territorial claims of one another, which means these agreements are only for the sake of humans and their well-being, for our children’s prosperity,” Haskel told lawmakers. She explained that such a treaty would “bring us together again and strengthen our communities. That will protect us and our children from the danger that is coming.”
The proposed Queen of Sheba Accords would encompass economic cooperation, defense, security, intelligence sharing, and educational, religious, and cultural collaboration.
“Only with a strong alliance will we be able to defeat evil,” Haskel said. “We all understand the religious and cultural war we are facing against radical Islam, so we have to speak also about faith-based diplomacy. If we establish the Queen of Sheba Accords as the foundation for a joint security and defense alliance, we will be able to defeat radical Islam much quicker and with fewer casualties.”
However, most lawmakers focused less on specific accords and more on the broader reasons for collaboration between Africa and Israel. These reasons included geography, collective memory, hope, history, and faith, as highlighted in speeches by African Union Chaplain Fr. Dr. Louison Emerick Bissila and MK Amit Halevi.
The first reason was geopolitics.
“In today’s world, where multilateralism is considered crucial, sovereign nations, whether individually or as part of groups, seek the freedom to collaborate with any nation of their choosing, without being subjected to the impositions of former colonial powers,” Bissila said.
He explained that Africa now embraces win-win partnerships with global powers such as China, Japan, Russia, India, and Brazil.
“Therefore, it is paradoxical that working with Israel should be seen as taboo, especially at a time when multilateralism is valued,” he said. “Intellectual hypocrisy should be discarded, and it should be acknowledged that African nations are free to collaborate with Israel. Furthermore, international organisations to which African states belong should respect the choice of the people.”
According to Bissila, Africa’s tendency to forget its past was the second reason.
“Africans have a tendency to forget, thereby elevating those who have caused us suffering and disregarding those who have our best interests at heart,” Bissila said.
He stressed the importance of Africa, remembering its identity and history, which are linked to Israel through the Bible.
Finally, Bissila emphasised that Africa could learn a valuable lesson in hope from Israel.
“Pope Francis refers to Africa as ‘the continent of hope,’ and Israel’s national anthem, ‘Hatikvah,’ means ‘the hope,’” the chaplain noted. “It symbolizes the unwavering hope of a people who have preserved their aspirations of returning to their ancestral land throughout the centuries.”
“Today, we witness that with Hashem, everything is possible,” the chaplain said, using a Hebrew term for God.
“The strength of Israel lies in the land of Israel. … What we now know as the State of Israel is, in essence, the fulfillment of God’s promise to settle His people in their land.”
Later, Halevi added history as another reason for collaboration, emphasizing that Israel and most African nations, except Ethiopia, share a significant experience: liberation from colonialism.
“By colonialism, I mean not only the 19th-century period when Africa was divided and controlled by European powers, but also the colonialism of ancient and medieval times—from the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Arabs,” Halevi said. “We, the Jewish people, too, freed ourselves from colonialism. Like Africa, Israel was also conquered and subjugated by Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, and Turks. And we, too, lived under British colonial rule in the 20th century.”
He stressed that experiencing subjugation “is not a minor detail in a nation’s history” and that those who have lived under oppression understand the true value of freedom.
“Nations whose natural resources were exploited by foreign rulers develop a deep bond with their land and its landscape, deepening their roots there,” Halevi explained.
Finally, he highlighted faith, noting that freedom and redemption are central to biblical theology, which calls for brotherhood, unity, and cooperation.
‘It is strategic’
Uganda and Israel share a spiritual bond, according to Hon. Achan Judith Peace, a Ugandan member of parliament who attended the event. However, their relationship is also convenient. For years, Uganda has learned from Israel’s expertise in agriculture, defense, and technology, Peace said.
“It is strategic for Uganda to relate to Israel,” Peace told The Media Line.
She also emphasised the importance of this relationship in combating extremism. Peace explained that extremist Muslim groups are actively recruiting Christians in Africa, often using financial incentives. She attended the parliamentary event to gather information that could help Uganda in this fight and support the country’s pursuit of justice.
According to Peace, the International Criminal Court has unjustly ruled against Israel, and she hopes the knowledge gained at the summit will help Uganda advocate for fair treatment of Israel in the international arena.
“We know that you all face anti-Israel voices in your parliaments, and your choice to stand for truth and justice is not an easy task,” Haskel said.
She called on the room of pro-Israel lawmakers to join forces against radicalism.
“If we want to defeat the radical Islamist front of political influence, then let’s join forces … and create … an economic alliance that will create resilience against the enormous amount of money and influence Iran is buying,” Haskel said. “We need to create a framework together that will create awareness and information, but most of all, will be a declaration to the radicals that our friendship ties and bonds are strong like irons, and our guards will not fall down.
“We read the warnings from the Bible, and we will take the strength that God has put in our hands,” Haskel concluded. “We will work to defeat evil together.”
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