African Muslim preachers visit to Israel sparks outrage

A group of African Muslim preachers visited Israel on December 1st and met with the Israeli President Isaac Herzog, sparking outrage among many people and causing some countries to distance themselves from the individuals, according to The New Arab and agencies.

The Israeli President received what he called a “special delegation of Imams and Muslim leaders from across Africa” for a future rooted in Muslims and Jews speaking to one another that will “build mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation – as we have seen in the historic Abraham Accords.”

The African Muslim delegation consisted of people from Senegal, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin and Togo, who visited the Israeli President’s residence in Jerusalem.

Herzog also claimed that this was expanding the circle of peace in “an era of brainwashing and spreading hatred.” The Senegal Imams and Preachers Association had strong reactions to this visit to Israel and condemned the people involved. 

They said that the delegation was not a representative of the Senegalese people or their religious leadership. They reiterated their solidarity with Palestine, warning the delegation that their action had gone against the sentiment of the Senegalese public and Senegal’s official stance.

On December 7th, activists confronted Israeli ambassador to Senegal, Yuval Waks, who was in a conference in Dakar and shouted slogans including, “Israel is a genocidal entity”. The same ambassador was chased out of a Dakar university in May.

Herzog argued that the visit showed the true colours of Israel, in which “Israel is doing so much good in the world, including in Africa.” He added: “I believe Africa should be a bridge of peace in our region.”

As Israel tries to bridge more relationships with the Arab World and Muslim countries, the delegation’s visit could be strengthening relationships with the continent and the Middle East.

The New Arab, X, Anadolu Agency, Israel.com, Maghrebi.org