Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the visiting Chadian President on Sunday that he expects to make more trips to Arab countries in the near future after going to Oman last month.
Israel has diplomatic ties with just two Arab states, Egypt and Jordan, though Mr Netanyahu has hinted at warmer relations with Gulf Arab states that Israel views as natural allies against regional powerhouse Iran.
The Israeli prime minister and his ministers have visited a number of Gulf states in the past few weeks. Although he did not specify his next planned Arab destination, local media said Israel was already talking to Bahrain about establishing official ties, making it a likely port of call.
Chadian President Idriss Deby arrived in Israel on Sunday for the first official visit by a leader of the Central African country that severed diplomatic ties with Israel in 1972.
_______________
Read more:
Oman Foreign Minister: we can help, but only the US can find a 'solution' for Israel and Palestine
Palestinian foreign minister chastises world leaders for lack of progress
Hamas leader says won’t stop Gaza marches for ‘diesel fuel and dollars’
New Zealand activists raise funds for Palestine charity after fine by Israel
_______________
"We discussed ... the great changes that are taking place in the Arab world in its relations with Israel," Mr Netanyahu said, adding there will be more visits to Arab countries soon.
The Netanyahu government has been investing in outreach to Africa, where some countries previously warm to Israel have kept their distance since its occupation of the Palestinian territories in the 1967 war. Israel has diplomatic ties with 32 of the continent's 54 countries.
President Deby said his visit was "historic" for both countries and that it "could facilitate the turning of a new page in relations between us" but added that even with a renewal of ties, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could not be ignored.
"Of course, the renewal of diplomatic ties between us, which I very much want, is not something that can make the Palestinian issue disappear," Mr Deby said in French through a translator.
Unofficial contacts between Israel and Chad have been ongoing for an extended period, Mr Deby said. One source told Reuters the visit is focused on security, adding that Israel has supplied Chad's army with weapons and equipment this year to help fight rebels.
Wasel Abu Youssef, a senior Palestinian official, voiced displeasure over President Deby's visit.
"All countries and institutions must boycott the extremist government of Israel and impose a siege on it because of its settlement activities, its occupation of Palestinian land," Mr Youssef said.
President Deby, 66, has been in power since 1990 and has been an ally of the West in a fight against extremist militants in West Africa. However, impoverished Chad itself faces destabilising forces on multiple fronts, including fighters with links to Al Qaeda and ISIS.
He is also trying to prevent an influx of militants fleeing the Libyan conflict and in January closed Chad's border with its northern neighbour.
In July 2016 Mr Deby hosted the then-director of Israel's Foreign Ministry, Dore Gold, for exploratory talks on improving bilateral relations. Mr Gold said on Israel Radio on Sunday that his Chadian hosts told him they had cut off ties in 1972 under Libyan pressure, a factor removed with the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
