What’s behind the Chadian president's visit to Israel?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was all smiles at his Nov. 25 joint press conference with Chadian President Idriss Deby. "Now I'm going to drop a big hint, I hope to come to the center of Africa. And I wish to bring with me Israeli entrepreneurs, Israeli experts, Israeli companies, everything that can improve the life of the peoples of Africa, which is something we believe in," said Netanyahu. But journalists noted a strange change of mood at the end of the press conference. 

Deby and Netanyahu were about to leave the room when Deby was asked whether the two leaders discussed bilateral arms trade. The Chadian president started to make his way back to the microphones to respond, but Netanyahu reached the microphones quicker and stated, simply, "We discussed what we discussed."

This minor incident revealed the dilemma facing Israeli diplomacy concerning Netanyahu’s frenzy over Israel’s "return to Africa." What sort of image is Israel trying to project in its efforts to resume ties with Chad and other African nations? An image of Israel the smart-agriculture nation or that of Israel, world leader in sophisticated weapons?

On Nov. 22, just three days before Deby's visit, the Foreign Ministry hosted in Jerusalem a first-of-its-kind conference, "Africa, Climate Change and Israel’s Contribution." The keynote speakers were Patricia Espinosa, the executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and Rwanda’s Environment Minister Vincent Biruta. Netanyahu addressed the conference via video, and spoke of Israel’s achievements in solar, agriculture and irrigation technology. "Israel is in a unique position to work with African countries to alleviate some of these pressing environmental challenges," he said.