Reviving Relations Between Israel and Africa at the UN

"For many decades, Israel has suffered under a bias at the U.N. because we have been greatly outnumbered in almost every forum. One byproduct has been the Palestinian attempts to circumvent direct negotiations through international bodies. Better relations between Israel and Africa could mitigate this escape hatch and encourage the Palestinians to return to the negotiating table.

Recently we have had glimpses of what is possible. In 2014, when the Palestinians tried to advance an anti-Israel resolution in the Security Council, Nigeria and Rwanda abstained, stopping the initiative. This while certain European members of the council voted for the Palestinian resolution.

Similarly, during my recent successful run for the chair of the U.N. Legal Committee, the Non-Aligned Movement headed by Iran sought to deny Israel the full rights and privileges awarded to all other U.N. member states. This attempt to boycott Israel was thwarted when African countries such as Kenya and Rwanda demanded that my candidacy be considered in the same manner as every other country seeking a leadership position. In the end, 109 countries voted for my chairmanship, making it the first time an Israeli was elected to head a permanent U.N. Committee.

We have every indication to believe that the Palestinians will continue to turn to the U.N. with the hope of imposing a solution on Israel and avoiding any of the hard decisions needed for real peace. In combating these attempts, Israel's most important partner remains the American people. But Israel must expand its diplomatic horizons and widen our circle of friends.

We are deepening our relationship with Africa because it is the right thing to do and because there are economic benefits for both sides. But Israel will also be sure to leverage these important relationships to ensure that it is finally treated fairly at the U.N., as a full member state with the rights and privileges afforded to all other nations."