Israeli President Isaac Herzog began his first official visit to Zambia on Monday, marking a rare diplomatic outreach to southern Africa.
“Africa is the future,” Herzog declared on the social media platform X, emphasising Israel’s commitment to strengthening cooperation in trade, agriculture, innovation, science, and technology across the continent.
His office announced that the visit would include brief stops in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of a 24-hour regional tour aimed at expanding Israel’s diplomatic footprint.
The trip comes as Israel intensifies efforts to forge closer ties with African nations, many of which have historically supported the Palestinian cause and condemned the Israeli occupation.
Simultaneously, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar is expected to inaugurate Israel’s new embassy in Tallinn, Estonia, on Tuesday, signalling broader diplomatic ambitions beyond Africa.
Analysts say these moves reflect Tel Aviv’s attempt to break growing international isolation amid mounting criticism of its ongoing war in Gaza.
Since October 2023, Israel’s US-backed military campaign in the enclave has killed more than 69,000 Palestinians, drawing widespread condemnation from human rights organisations and global leaders.
Herzog’s African tour, therefore, carries a dual purpose — projecting Israel’s image as a global partner while countering the diplomatic fallout of its actions in Gaza.
As Africa’s influence on global politics continues to rise, Israel’s outreach underscores its effort to reposition itself within an increasingly sceptical international community.
