The Israeli government, headed by Benjamin Netanyahu, is racing against time to expand the circle of normalization to the African continent, believing that normalization with the Arab and Islamic world is the gateway to settling the Palestinian issue on the one hand, and an attempt to overcome internal crises and overcome external opposition to the government on the other.
Israel's interest in the African continent was reflected in this period, through the scenes of the normalization train heading towards the State of Somalia, according to the news site "Zaman Yisrael", which confirmed that Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen seeks to include Somalia in the circle of normalization with Israel, and it is likely - as well - that Cohen recently met with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud, in an African country.
But Cohen's approach is opposed by Israel's National Security Council headed by Tzachi Hanegbi, who claims that "Somalia is the poorest country in the world, and Israel has no special importance for this African country."
Estimates by Israeli analysts, specialists and research centers agree that Tel Aviv has achieved previous successes in the African continent and opened several embassies, but Tel Aviv's support for the apartheid regime in South Africa has caused a setback for Israeli diplomacy, and contributed to the decline of its presence, and the reduction and reduction of its influence.
But Tel Aviv has returned during the last decade to regain its presence and strengthen its influence on the African continent, as it is estimated that Israel has become the main arms supplier to regimes in Africa, in addition to achieving strategic economic goals.
Celebrating the launch of the Israeli-African lobby in the Israeli Knesset in 2016 brought together Netanyahu and ambassadors of African countries (Al Jazeera)
Move in a conflict arena
"After a period of great Israeli presence in Africa, in the fifties and sixties of the last century, most of the countries in the region severed their relations with Israel in the aftermath of the October 1973 war, but Israel has significantly strengthened its relations with various countries in Africa during the last decade," says Dr. Rami Daniel, a researcher at the International Relations Unit at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Daniel reviewed in his speech to Al Jazeera Net, the reasons that contributed to strengthening the Israeli presence and presence in Africa, which represents the arena of conflicts between the great powers, pointing out that many economic players in Africa are interested in Israeli technology, especially in the fields of agriculture, water, energy and security, but there is still a long way to achieve Israel's potential in Africa.
Daniel explained that the African continent's interest in Israeli security knowledge, and its use to confront armed operations, which threaten the stability of various regimes, helped Israel to be present everywhere in Africa, where Israel is also seen as a less threatening partner, compared to its relative size with the great powers.
As for Israel, Daniel said, "Africa is a region full of opportunities, and therefore the importance of normalization with various countries, including Somalia, lies in the importance of this continent, which is a growing market, which can be an important destination for Israeli exports, and Africa is a crucial point in the international trade routes, which the Israeli economy uses.
Israeli Gains
In addition to the diplomatic track and commercial goals, Asher Friedman, a researcher at the Misigaf Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy, believes that the African continent should be at the forefront of Israel's attention more than ever, especially in light of the recent military coups in the countries of the Sahel region in Africa, which is worrying Israel, which is interested in strengthening its influence and expanding the circle of normalization.
Friedman explained to Al Jazeera Net, that the series of coups increase Israeli fears of the decline of the influence of the West, in front of the increasing influence of the Russian-Chinese-Iranian axis, and the increase in the activity of armed organizations in the African continent, where Friedman does not rule out that "this activity exceeds African borders, and threatens Israeli national security, and therefore lies here the importance of normalization with Somalia, and other African countries."
Like other countries in the African continent, Somalia is at the center of Israeli attention aimed at recruiting it alongside it in international forums, which makes it an additional value for Tel Aviv, if relations between the two countries normalize, in addition to the political dimensions that are summarized in investment opportunities, and Israel opens more new markets for its technical products, and the arms trade in particular.
Netanyahu inspects honor guard during visit to Ethiopia, where he wrapped up his African tour (Reuters)
Normalization Circle
Commenting on the Israeli government's move towards strengthening Tel Aviv's influence and presence on the African continent, Israeli affairs researcher Antoine Shalhat said that "normalization for the current Netanyahu government is a strategic goal to resolve the conflict in the Middle East."
Shalhat cited the security doctrine promoted by Netanyahu, which is based on the belief that normalization with Arab and Islamic countries will eventually lead to the settlement of the Palestinian issue, without making concessions, and according to Israeli conditions and dictates.
According to this doctrine, the researcher of Israeli affairs believes that Netanyahu has succeeded, albeit to a limited extent, in turning the equation, so that he promotes that reconciliation with the Arab and Islamic world is the gateway to settling the Palestinian issue and not the other way around, which he achieved by signing the "Abraham Accords" that contradict the "Arab Peace Initiative."
Regarding the reasons, motives and interest shown by Israel in expanding the circle of normalization in the African continent, Shalhat said, "Israel is interested in the issue of international legitimacy in its practices against the Palestinian people, as it is interested in obtaining this legitimacy through the countries defending it in international forums, or abstaining from voting against it in the General Assembly or the Criminal Court."
Disinformation Industry
Israeli affairs researcher Antoine Shalhat questioned the reality of Israeli differences regarding normalization with Somalia, pointing out that any dispute that comes out in public in such cases is within the scope of the so-called "dispute industry", and he puts question marks on it, especially with the Israeli security establishment, which generally undertakes the tasks of normalization.
He attributed what he described as an "artificial dispute" over normalization with Somalia to leaks in the Libyan file, which caused diplomatic harm to Israel, which is still seeking to minimize its impact and refraining from disclosing the scenes of the normalization process with Somalia.
Shalhat believes that Israel's concealment of the reality of the "scenario" of normalization with Somalia is an attempt to mislead, and is originally due to the importance that Tel Aviv attaches to maintaining its influence on the African continent, minimizing the repercussions of not keeping it an observer member of the African Union, and seeking to return to its post again.