Netanyahu and Togo President Gnassingbe
Netanyahu and Togo President GnassingbeHaim Zach/GPO

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday evening met with visiting Togo President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé.

"Togo is very important to us and Africa is very important to us. We have a great relationship, a great friendship. And we are seeking to intensify our cooperation and our friendship for the continued success of Togo and also for the continued improvement and furthering of Israel's friendship with your country,” Netanyahu said at the start of the meeting.

“Your visit comes at a very important time for Israel's relations with Africa. I recently came from a visit to four African countries where I met the leaders of seven African nations. It was a very successful visit. And I must say that I think the sky is the limit in all areas, I mean: water, agriculture, technology, health, education, tourism, security and every other field,” he added.

“I look forward to replicating the same thing in West Africa. I can confide in you that I spoke to your brother-in-law about this who is an important figure in ECOWAS. And I'd like to talk to you about our mutual relations but also how Togo can further assist us in the great return to Africa. I think it's long overdue. And it's important for the countries of Africa and for Israel.

“I want to express our deep gratitude for Togo's position in the international forums. You have been there consistently friendly to us and you stood up not only for Israel, you stood up for the truth time and time again. We remember our friends and we appreciate them. And in this spirit we receive you, our great friend, in Jerusalem,” continued Netanyahu.

“The person you see there, the statue, is the founder of modern Zionism, the rebirth of the Jewish national movement that made it possible for the Jews to re-gather in our ancestral homeland and to found a Jewish state. His name was Theodor Herzl and he is like a modern Moses. But very few people know that Herzl said that: after I finish my battle to liberate my people, I will devote my life to liberate the people of Africa. Well, the people of Africa are liberated. And now we have the Jewish state that Herzl envisioned and the independent states of Africa. And we join hands to secure our common future of prosperity, of security, of peace,"he concluded.

Netanyahu's four-day visit to Africa took place last month, and he visited Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and Ethiopia.

Netanyahu's visit was the first by a sitting Israeli Prime Minister in decades, with the goal of improving relations with these countries as well as developing economic ties.

Earlier on Wednesday, President Reuven Rivlin held a working meeting with Gnassingbé, and spoke of the cooperation between the two countries and of Israel’s experience and ability to assist Togo.

“Our ability in agriculture, together with our technological capabilities has led us to many achievements. I know the great efforts you are making in these fields and we are proud that of the many Israelis who are investing in your country,” said Rivlin.

“Israel is interested in being involved in the assisting with humanitarian issues, initiatives, and the rebuilding taking place in Africa,” continued the President and said, “We, together with many European nations, see that Africa is the future, and therefore I am proud and greatly appreciate the opportunity to welcome you here, with the hope that your visit will represent another step up in the relationship between our two countries.”