Israel’s reputation took a hit in February, even by the country’s low standards of human rights abuses, disregard for international law, and war crimes. The month saw revelations of Israeli companies subverting democratic elections worldwide and illegal settlers carrying out a pogrom against Palestinians in the West Bank town of Huwara. The country’s true face was exposed to the world in a cruel and meticulous fashion. At the opening ceremony of the African Union’s annual summit, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, two weeks ago, Israel faced another humiliation. Ambassador Sharon Bar-Li was booted out after turning up with a non-transferable invitation that had supposedly been issued to Israel’s ambassador to the African Union, Aleli Admasu. The AU not only expressed “full support for the Palestinian people in their legitimate struggle against the Israeli occupation” but also urged member states to “end all direct and indirect trade, scientific and cultural exchanges with the State of Israel”. This recommendation, which echoes the demands of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, could be the start of a change in Israel’s fortunes, not just on the continent but across the globe.
Africa has led global movements seeking to isolate and pressure oppressive, ethno-supremacist regimes, having led one targeting the apartheid regime in South Africa in the 1980s. The AU’s stance on relations with Israel and the foreign policies of its individual members do not always align. While Israel’s actions towards its neighbours have been a major irritant, they are far from the only consideration for African nations. The relationship between Africa and Israel is complex and has fluctuated. Initially, Israel cultivated close ties with newly independent African countries as a way to counter the isolation and hostility imposed on it by its Arab neighbours. In the 1960s, more than 1,800 Israeli experts were running development programmes on the continent, and by 1972, Israel hosted more African embassies than Britain.
Attitudes began to change following the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. African reactions to the conflict were mixed, with some countries such as apartheid South Africa and Ethiopia expressing support for Israel and others siding with the Arab states. Overall, however, many African leaders viewed Israel’s actions dimly and on June 8, as the fighting was ongoing, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) condemned Israel’s “unprovoked aggression” and called for an immediate ceasefire. The real rupture came in the 1970s and especially following the 1973 October war. By then, despite resistance from many countries, the troubles in the Middle East had been inching up the continent’s agenda and generating rifts within a continent that valued consensus and solidarity.
The October war and the resulting oil embargo by Arab states that drove up global oil prices changed that calculus. By November, all but four African states – Malawi, Lesotho, Swaziland, and Mauritius – had abandoned Israel, which thereafter only made matters worse by cultivating a close relationship with the apartheid regime in South Africa. Despite the restoration of ties in the 1980s and 1990s, Israel has never regained the stature it had enjoyed two decades prior. While today it has diplomatic relations with more than 40 countries on the continent, it remains locked out of the AU, and the vast majority of the 54 African votes at the UN General Assembly are still reliably pledged to the Palestinians.
The push in recent years to improve ties has borne some fruit but has also come up against the tide of history. The fact is that today’s situation is akin to that in 1973, with the continent split over how to respond to Israeli oppression, with countries balancing a principled opposition to apartheid with pragmatic economic and security cooperation. However, a major crisis could shift the balance in favour of the former. What an internal assessment by the Israeli foreign ministry concluded in July of that year rings true half a century later: “Israel’s image as an occupier, its refusal to withdraw from all territories – are not acceptable in Africa, and the Arab demands receive emotional and instinctive support even amongst our friends … There is a danger that these trends will continue to escalate …”. The events in Addis this February were an indicator of that.
In conclusion, Israel’s reputation took a hit in February due to its human rights abuses, disregard for international law, and war crimes. The country’s true face was exposed to the world in a cruel and meticulous fashion. The AU not only expressed “full support for the Palestinian people in their legitimate struggle against the Israeli occupation” but also urged member states to “end all direct and indirect trade, scientific and cultural exchanges with the State of Israel”. This recommendation could be the start of a change in Israel’s fortunes globally. While Africa has led global movements seeking to isolate and pressure oppressive regimes before, its stance on relations with Israel is complex and has fluctuated over time. However, a major crisis could shift the balance in favour of principled opposition to Israeli oppression.