Israel’s President Isaac Herzog welcomed a delegation of Imams and Muslim community leaders from Senegal, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Togo at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem on Monday. The visit, facilitated by the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to foster peace, coexistence, and partnership between Muslims and Jews, as well as strengthen ties between Africa and Israel.
During the meeting, President Herzog highlighted the importance of the delegation witnessing the realities on the ground in Israel, contrasting them with widespread misinformation circulating internationally. He emphasized Israel’s commitment to building strong relationships with African nations, referencing his recent visits to Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo as evidence of growing bilateral cooperation.
President Herzog said, “We are very honored to have you here. I think it’s a big message from the Muslim communities of Africa. We believe in Africa, and we believe in strengthening ties with Africa. The future of this region is only through dialogue between Jew and Muslim, and the Abraham Accords have shown it.”
The delegation expressed their friendship with Israel and the Jewish people, sharing their emotional experiences visiting sites of religious significance to Muslims in the Holy Land. They pledged to communicate their experiences to their communities upon returning home.
The visit represents a continued effort to promote interfaith understanding and regional dialogue amid ongoing challenges in the Middle East.
