Africa

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar meets Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi in Hargeisa, January 6, 2026. (Somaliland Presidency/X)

Israel’s Somaliland gambit reflects a doctrine of endless escalation

By projecting power into the Horn of Africa, Israel aims to increase pressure on rivals, undermine regional stability, and narrow the space for diplomacy.

By Omar H. Rahman January 13, 2026

The signature agreements between Morocco’s National Office for Electricity and Drinking Water and Israel's national water company, Mekorot, at La Mamounia Hotel in Marrakech, November 17, 2022. (Marc Israel Sellem/Jerusalem Post)

With Morocco normalization, Israel revives a dangerous Africa policy

Unable to reconcile its public diplomacy with colonialism at home, Israel has returned to courting key African partners through military-intelligence ties.

By Alex White August 17, 2023

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu inspects an honor guard in Nairobi, Kenya, on July 5, 2016 (Kobi Gideon / GPO).

Why Africa won’t embrace Netanyahu

No matter how many technological advancements or solutions to terrorism he offers, Netanyahu won’t be able to convince African states to love Israel before the occupation comes to an end. By Ilan Baruch Spokespersons for the Israeli government have recently decided to define Israel’s diplomatic ties with Africa as a strategic goal. During his visit to…

By +972 Magazine September 27, 2016

Latest

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mrs Sara Netanyahu depart for Uganda from Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion Airport, July 4, 2016. (Kobi Gideon / GPO)

Netanyahu’s Africa tour: A spit in the face of those Israel helps oppress

The Israeli public and its government need to internalize that ‘Israel’s pride,’ its wildly successful military export industry, has been an unending nightmare for the people of Africa. How can Netanyahu look the Rwandan and Ugandan people in the eyes? By Itay Mack Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently on a tour of African states…

By +972 Magazine July 6, 2016

An African asylum seeker jailed in Holot detention center waits to re-enter the facility after meeting activists and friends who came for a solidarity visit, Negev, February 15, 2014. (photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

Voices from Israel’s ‘open prison’: Feeling caged in Holot

‘My curiosity drives me to walk around my prison, where I stand like an inmate near those massive buildings, guarded by imposing patrol towers.’ Musings by a Sudanese refugee in Holot prison. By Hassan Shakur I live in a rugged and semi-abandoned grassland. It is a very remote and isolated area that doesn’t seem to…

By +972 Magazine June 25, 2014

Africa’s less-known business ventures offer lessons for Israel

As Israelis look for solutions to deal with some of the country’s growing economic and social problems, they could stand to sometimes take a few less lessons from America and a few more from Africa. Finance ministers and bank officials from Africa and investing countries are heading to the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, for the annual…

By Roee Ruttenberg June 7, 2011