Israel, Guinea renew diplomatic ties after 49 years

Israel and the Republic of Guinea renewed their diplomatic contacts after 49 years of disconnect on Wednesday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said.

Director General of the Israeli Foreign Ministry Dore Gold signed an agreement to renew ties with Ibrahim Khalil Kaba, the chief of staff for the Guinean President Alpha Condé, in Paris on Wednesday, according to a statement by the Foreign Ministry.

Gold said the renewal of contacts is an "important closing of a circle," and talked of Israel's desire to establish more ties in the African continent.

He added the renewal of the diplomatic ties was partly made possible due to Israel's assistance to Guinea during the outbreak of the Ebola virus in the country two years ago.

The West Africa state cut ties with Israel in 1967, amid the Mideast War Israel had fought against Arab states in the region, which culminated with the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, east Jerusalem, Golan Heights and Gaza Strip territories.

Eighty-five percent of Guinea's 10.5 million population are Muslim.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu embarked on a historic visit to Africa at the beginning of the month, in an apparent bid to find new trade partners and political allies.

During his visit, which spread across Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia, Netanyahu expressed his desire to establish diplomatic ties with as many African states as possible.

He told the parliament of Ethiopia that "Israel is coming back to Africa in a big way", and pledged to the Kenyan president that "Africa has no better ally than Israel."

The Israeli quest to make new allies in Africa comes as it is facing increasing international pressure from Western countries to resume peace talks with the Palestinians, especially after a 10-month wave of violence that claimed the lives of 34 Israelis and 218 Palestinians. Endit