Israel announced last month it would receive observer status in the 55-member African Union (AU), 19 years after it was ousted from the group. Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said at the time “This is a day of celebration for Israel-Africa relations."
“This diplomatic achievement is the result of efforts by the Foreign Ministry, the African Division, and Israeli embassies on the continent." This corrects the anomaly that existed for almost two decades,” Lapid continued, “and is an important part of strengthening of fabric of Israel’s foreign relations. This will help us strengthen our activities in the continent and in the organization’s member states.”
Israel is rejoining the AU as an observer member, 19 years after it was ousted from the predecessor Organization of African Unity in 2002 when the organization dissolved itself and became the AU. Israel’s ambassador to Addis Ababa, Aleleign Admasu, officially submitted Israel’s charter as an observer member to the 55-member continental organization. Israel had twice attempted to return to the organization in recent years but failed.
The acceptance of Israel’s membership as an observer state in the AU has created a great deal of controversy inside and outside the organization, with the objection of many member states to the measure taken unilaterally by the AU Commission's Chairperson Moussa Faki. Almost two weeks after Israel was accepted, seven Arab countries – Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, and Tunisia – submitted an objection to the decision made by Faki. They argued that the move “is unacceptable ... because it is a procedural and political violation” of the criteria for granting observer status to the AU. The rest of the Arab League member states of the African Union, Morocco, Sudan and Somalia, remained silent.
Israel’s goals
Joining the African Union is a diplomatic goal Israel had been working on to win support at the global level hoping that African countries will not vote against it in international forums. Besides, Israel seeks to exploit the economic potential of the continent, seizing opportunities in the technology market, arms trade, specialized security technologies, mining, energy, infrastructure and others. On the other hand, the East African coast and the Nile Basin remain a strategic and vital area that pushes its policies toward Africa forward. Israel seeks, by all means, to dispel its image as an apartheid racist occupying power and it believes acceptance by third world countries will change its image.
Had it not been for the decline in the Arab role and interest in the main issues of concern to the continent, besides the normalization of some Arab states with Israel, it would have been impossible for Israel to penetrate Africa. If the efforts of Algeria, South Africa and other African countries fail, Israel’s accession to the AU as an observer will represent a righteous victory above all, in addition to some privileges, including access to official channels to influence issues that concern its interests especially to undermine African sympathy with the Palestinian cause, which will reflect not only on Palestinians but on the entire Arab region. For decades, African countries have strongly supported the Palestinian liberation struggle against Israel, seeing in it parallels with their own anti-colonial movements and on every occasion, it calls for a just and lasting solution to the conflict within the framework of the relevant United Nations pronouncements. Today, as Israel rejoins the AU, the continental body must be willing to step up its efforts to stand up for Palestine and must declare its stance publicly.