DRC: Tshisekedi announces resumption of relations with Israel in front of Aipac

Text by: RFI Follow

Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) announced on Sunday evening March 1, a resumption of his country's high-level diplomatic relations with Israel. The installation of an "economic section" of the embassy is also envisaged in Jerusalem.

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The announcement of this resumption of diplomatic relations between the DRC and Israel was made in Washington before the Israeli-American Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) which is organizing its major annual conference from Sunday to Tuesday March 3.

After more than twenty years without high-level representation in Israel, Félix Tshisekedi announces that he will appoint, in the coming days, an ambassador in Tel Aviv. For the moment, the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is headed by a simple charge d'affaires.

The Congolese president also announces the creation of an " economic section " whose aim is to strengthen ties with Israel in particular in the areas of " agriculture and science and technology ".

During his speech in front of the powerful pro-Israeli lobby Aipac, in the United States, Félix Tshisekedi clarified that the DRC embassy remains in Tel Aviv, but that he has no problem founding this new economic section in Jerusalem. He also adds supporting President Donald Trump's peace plan, a plan rejected by the Palestinian Authority.

# AIPAC2020 #AIPACProud https://t.co/nu2u5nx73x

According to a specialist, these announcements are made to please Donald Trump and the United States who have supported Félix Tshisekedi since his election and whose support he is seeking to emancipate himself from Joseph Kabila.

The president's speech went badly in the DRC with those close to his predecessor: " The DRC cannot ignore Palestine ", for example commented on twitter a close collaborator of Joseph Kabila, Jean-Pierre Kambila.

President Tshisekedi's speech was also criticized by a large part of the public who asked not to forget the Palestinian cause.

“ Jerusalem is, by its history, a place that belongs to the Jews, the Arabs as well as the Christians. To consider it as the capital of Israel is to accept its privatization by the Jews alone , ”reacted the citizen movement Struggle for Change (Lucha).

Congolese Internet users hoped, for their part, that Félix Tshisekedi did not forget to appoint " in the process " a High Representative to the Palestinian State.

► Also read: "DRC: when Joseph Kabila used Mossad elders against the opposition"

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