Israel Eyes New Alliances In Africa

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Israel Eyes New Alliances In Africa

 

Tel Aviv, 9 March 2010 (Somalilandpress) – Israel is struggling to keep its diplomatic friends in Africa as Iran makes a determined effort to expand its influence there, making the continent an emerging theater in the Iran-Israel confrontation.

 

But these days the Jewish state has a new ally, Kenya, which wants Israeli help to fight the growing menace of jihadist terrorism emanating from war-torn Somalia, Kenya’s northern neighbor where jihadists linked to al-Qaida are active.

 

Israel is also seeking a foothold in the turbulent Horn of Africa to guard the approaches of the Red Sea. This is a vital shipping route and the access to the Arabian Sea for missile-armed Israeli submarines to target Iran should hostilities erupt.

 

It is also used by Iran to smuggle weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip via Sudan and Egypt.

 

The Kenyans have suffered three major attacks by al-Qaida in recent years — the suicide bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi on Aug. 7, 1998, and twin attacks Nov. 28, 2002, in Mombasa, the bombing of a hotel frequented by Israelis and a missile attack on an Israeli airliner.

 

Kenyan Minister of Internal Security George Saitoti asked for Israeli counter-terrorism assistance when he visited Jerusalem in February.

 

According to media reports, he told Israeli leaders: “The jihad is taking over Somalia and threatening to take over Kenya and all of Africa. No one is more experienced than you in fighting internal terrorism.”

 

These reports said the Israelis responded by saying they were prepared to consider establishing a joint force with Kenya to guard its northwestern border to prevent terrorist infiltration.

 

Somalia’s al-Shebab Islamist movement, which is fighting a Western-backed transitional government in Mogadishu, has repeatedly threatened to attack Kenya for allegedly training Somali troops.

 

According to the Jamestown Foundation, a U.S. think tank that monitors jihadist militancy, “The talks with Kenya appear to be part of a growing Israeli interest in the Horn of Africa.”

 

 

In early February, Yigal Palmor, spokesman for Israel’s Foreign Ministry, reportedly told the Somalia media that Israel was prepared to recognize the breakaway territory of Somaliland, which split from Somalia in 1991, as an independent nation.

 

If that happened, Israel would be the first country to recognize Somaliland, which is strategically located on the Gulf of Aden.

 

There have been reports, all unconfirmed, that Israel has its eye on setting up a naval outpost at the port of Berbera to monitor the approaches to the Red Sea. The Soviet military established a naval port there in 1969 during the Cold War, along with an airfield capable of handling all types of military and cargo aircraft.

 

Last June, one of the Israeli navy’s German-built Dolphin class submarines, reputedly able to carry nuclear-armed missiles, transited the Suez Canal from the Mediterranean into the northern end of the Red Sea for “exercises.” That was generally seen as a warning to Iran as Israeli warships usually have to take the long route from the Mediterranean via the Cape of Good Hope to reach the Red Sea.

 

Two Saar 5-class missile ships followed in July to beef up the Israeli presence in the waterway.

 

According to several Internet reports, two more Israeli warships passed through the canal in recent weeks into the Red Sea. Israel’s Defense Ministry declined comment.

 

In the 1950s and ’60s, Israel cultivated links with many of the post-colonial African states because they provided considerable diplomatic support in the United Nations and other internal forums, usually in exchange for military and agricultural support.

 

That changed amid a swell in pro-Arab sentiment following the Middle Eastern wars of 1967 and 1973.

 

More recently, Iran has been buying off some of Israel’s erstwhile allies in a systematic effort to spread Tehran’s influence in the Third World.

 

Last year, Mauritania, one of the few Arab League members to have relations with Israel, told it to close its embassy in the capital, Nouakchott, after Iran moved in.

 

Iran’s clout in central and west Africa is also heightened by the presence of large and influential communities of Lebanese Shiites who are generally sympathetic to Hezbollah.

 

They dominate the diamond trade in the region, which provides considerable funds for the Iranian-backed movement.

 

However, in recent months, Israel has been building military and intelligence links with Ethiopia, Nigeria and other African states.

 

Source: UPI

[Peacenow]

Hargeisa I smell a opportunity. Will you now listen?

 

Let Israel come in and develop Berbera port. If the arabs refuse to invest there then alternative sources are needed.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Israel Partnering in Africa Against Terror

 

by Malkah Fleisher

Follow Israel news on and .

 

 

(IsraelNN.com) Israel is increasing its partnership in Africa, united with factions which are battling fundamentalist Islam.

 

Following February talks between Israel and the Kenyan government in which the African country requested Israeli assistance in fighting terror, Israel and Kenya may form a joint force to guard against the entry of terrorists through the northern Kenyan border with Somalia.

 

In addition, Israel has reportedly expressed an interest in being the first country to recognize the autonomous province of Somaliland as a country, according to a report in Somaliland's Golis News. Somaliland broke away from Somalia – Kenya's eastern neighbor – in 1991, rebelling against Somalian military dictator Siad Barre.

 

A positive relationship with Somaliland could have important geo-military significance for Israel, due to the province's position at the northeastern tip of Africa, on the southern bank of the Gulf of Aden. Somaliland's northern coast is located just south of the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait at the southern end of the Red Sea.

 

A deputy leader of al-Qaeda recently announced the terror group's aim to re-enforce Somali militants in order to turn Somaliland into a bastion of Islamic fundamentalism and hamper the ability of Israeli vessels to sail south out of the Red Sea. He said al-Qaeda wants to put Bab al-Mandab "under the protection of Islam," according to a report by the al-Malahim Establishment for Media Production.

 

The Somali press has also reported that Israel may establish an outpost at the port of Berbera in Somaliland, to guard the entrance to the Red Sea.

 

Up until now, Somaliland – which is overwhelmingly populated by Sunni Muslims – has been unable to receive any kind of foreign aid, development assistance, or military equipment because of a lack of international recognition.

[GAAROODI]

Somaliland.....our time has come.........its Israel so what, it was the first country to recognise somaliland in 1960. Its the oppertunity we have been waiting for.

 

SOMALILANDERS, WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE. The prophet os God Muhammed PBH signed contracts with Jews, alliances and partnerships. These so called muslims...these somalis are the very same people who bombed our cities with south african mersanaries, the same muslims who appose our right to self determination to the extent that they are prepared to starve us out and kill us.

 

forget arabs....embrace your interest, international alliances with Israel as the first partner.

 

SHALOM.....

[Castro]

Originally posted by GAAROODI:

Somaliland.....our time has come.........its Israel so what, it was the first country to recognise somaliland in 1960. Its the oppertunity we have been waiting for.

 

SOMALILANDERS, WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE. The prophet os God Muhammed PBH signed contracts with Jews, alliances and partnerships. These so called muslims...these somalis are the very same people who bombed our cities with south african mersanaries, the same muslims who appose our right to self determination to the extent that they are prepared to starve us out and kill us.

 

forget arabs....embrace your interest, international alliances with Israel as the first partner.

 

SHALOM.....

Axmaq fowqal axmaq

[Che -Guevara]

^What's wrong with pursuing your interests no matter how misguided they might be?

[Sherban Shabeel]

Good God, I thought the pipe dream was over.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Originally posted by Che -Guevara:

^What's wrong with pursuing your interests no matter how misguided they might be?

What makes his interest misguided?

[Che -Guevara]

^Well for one, how feasible is it to establish relations with apartheid state which considering your grievances against Somali proper is rather ironic to say the least.

[Peace Action]

How low some people can get?

[Jacaylbaro]

i think there is no lower than killing each other under a religious banner ,,,,,,,,

[Ibtisam]

SL Supporters, Shame on you for even having nightmares about this crap let alone dreams. You would only shoot yourself in the foot with this baseless, ridiculous reports- forget Israel.

 

Working with/for the devil is never an option of Muslims- and no it is not an Arab thing, it is a moral objection.

[RedSea]

Axmaq fowqal axmaq

Feel better? :confused:

[Jacaylbaro]

It is politics Ibti ....... you always have another option when you don't get your "supposedly muslim" countries in your side ....

 

 

Don't worry ,, they will surely change the tune once they hear this ,,,

[Ibtisam]

JB: Politics Islam miyu ka wenyah?? :confused: If you have Allah on your side you don't need other ally, least of Isreal. Allah ma Isreal baa ka xoog weyen?? Wa laiidin roogi hada xaqdaro sameysan.