(Bloomberg) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will fly to Chad soon to announce the renewal of diplomatic ties, his office said, another achievement in his campaign to widen Israel's circle of allies.
No date was given.
The diplomatic rapprochement has been expected since Chad's President Idriss Deby arrived in Israel on an unannounced visit on Sunday, becoming the first leader of his Muslim-majority African nation to visit the Jewish state. He and Netanyahu discussed common threats and the fight against terrorism, as well as increased cooperation in agriculture, counter-terrorism, border defense, technology, solar energy, water and health, the prime minister's office said.
At a joint news conference with Deby on Sunday, Netanyahu deflected questions about possible Israeli arms sales to Chad.
Chad cut ties with Israel in 1972, one of a string of African nations to do so after the 1967 Middle East war. Netanyahu has visited Africa several times in recent years to strengthen diplomatic, security and trade relations, and hinted Sunday that he plans another trip.
To contact the reporter on this story: Alisa Odenheimer in Jerusalem at aodenheimer@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Shaji Mathew at shajimathew@bloomberg.net, Amy Teibel, Mark Williams
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