N’DJAMENA, Chad — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Chadian President Idriss Déby on Sunday announced the reestablishment of diplomatic relations, bringing the number of countries that Israel has formal ties with to a record of 161.
“Chad is a very important country, and very important for Israel,” Netanyahu said during a joint appearance with Déby at the N’Djamena presidential palace.
“There is a lot that we can do together. We discussed ways to deepen our cooperation in every field, beginning with security, but also agriculture, food, water, energy, health and many more,” he added, speaking in English. Switching to Hebrew, he declared: “We’re making new inroads into the Muslim world.”
“We are being welcomed here respectfully, just as we welcomed President Deby with great respect in Israel,” he said. “Israel is breaking into the Muslim world. This is the result of a great effort during the last few years. We’re making history, and we’re turning Israel into a rising world power.”
Chad severed ties with Israel in 1972 due to pressure from Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi. (Read More)
