ABSTRACT

Africa's relations with Israel reached their lowest ebb with the severance of diplomatic relations in October and November 1973. While the post-1973 political and multilateral aspects of Afro-Israeli relations remained, on the whole, negative, Israel developed complex and profitable economic and other bilateral ties with Africa. However, unlike the earlier period, Afro-Israeli contacts became less diffused, with Israel concentrating its activities on a few select states. Also, while the thrust of contacts in earlier times was on aid and diplomacy, the post-1973 period witnessed emphasis on non-formal ties. Trade, economic, and cultural links became the dominant features of the period. Concomitantly, there was a significant difference in the character of the actors involved in Afro-Israeli relations. Israeli trade statistics reveal that Israel continued to export to Africa sophisticated radio-telecommunication and electrical equipment which could be used for military purposes.