Saudi Minister of State for African Affairs Ahmed Bin Abdul Aziz Kattan is scheduled to chair on Wednesday a ministerial committee meeting on Israeli schemes in Africa at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo.
The meeting is expected to tackle an action plan discussed earlier by permanent representatives to confront Israel's “expansion” in an attempt to influence the votes of African states in international organizations in matters linked to the Palestinian cause.
Diab Allouh, Ambassador of Palestine to Cairo and its permanent representative to the Arab League, called on Tuesday for “joint Arab cooperation, particularly from Egypt, which currently chairs the African Union and has close relations with all countries.”
The Ambassador added that many Arab states have invested in Africa and have built strong economic and commercial relations with the continent’s countries.
Allouh explained that Israel was trying to invest in agriculture and security in Africa. “Arab states are capable to fill the gap and prevent Israel from using those sectors to expand in Africa,” he said.
Early this year, Chad decided to resume ties with Tel Aviv following a 46-year hiatus.
Sources said Dr. Meshaal bin Fahm Al-Salami, the speaker of the Arab Parliament, is expected to attend Wednesday’s meeting.
On Tuesday, Kattan received Egyptian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Nasser Hamdi and several top diplomats from African countries at the Saudi ministry's headquarters.
The meeting tackled many issues of common interest.
