By Dr. Irit Back and Dr. Jesse R. Weinberg
August 2026
Executive Summary:
Israel’s relations with Africa since its founding have seen significant periods of close cooperation as well as precipitous decline. Today, throughout Israel’s war in Gaza, South Africa has stood at the forefront, leading the charge against Jerusalem at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
This article aims to fill a void by analyzing Israel’s relations with the African continent, placing them in a historical context and examining patterns of support for Israel at the United Nations. It also provides recommendations for Israel to improve its standing with its African partners and places the development of Israel’s relations with African states into the context of post-October 7 events and subsequent African voting patterns at the UN.
For the full article in English:
