Israel rekindles its African ties

Israel's foreign minister is starting a visit to sub-Saharan Africa for the first time in more than 20 years.

Avigdor Liberman begins his trip in Ethiopia, where he will be accompanied by 20 business people. Officials say the trip is about building business links with Africa and also countering the influence of Iran on the continent. Israel hopes closer ties with Africa will help at the UN where African countries often vote in blocks. Ethiopia has strong links with Israel. During the 1980s and 90s tens of thousands of Ethiopian Jews were airlifted to Israel to resettle in what they considered to be their homeland. ..MORE..http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8233957.stm