Israel solicits Ghana's support to return as AU Observers

The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu did not mince words with the country's desire to return as an AU observer when Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, visited Jerusalem on official invitation from the Prime Minister .

Speaking on the matter, the Prime Minister said:

“Israel should once again be an observer state of the African Union … I fervently believe that it’s in your interest too, in the interest of Africa. And I hope all of you will support that goal.”

Netanyahu had made the same plea publicly in 2017 at the ECOWAS Heads of State Summit in Liberia where he appealed to absolve Israel back as an AU observer and for the African leaders to support his country against sanctions in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

“I ask for your support in rejecting anti-Israel bias at the United Nations, and in bodies such as the General Assembly, UNESCO and the Human Rights Council.

“Israel is a nation that loves and respects all … In Israel, Jews, Christians and Muslims live side by side as equal citizens. This is the real Israel”, he said.

In response, during the meeting between the Israeli Prime Minister and Ghana's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey said Ghana will do all it can to help Israel's course and “pledged to work hard to ensure that Israel gets her voice heard on the African continent.”