Special to WorldTribune.com

TEL AVIV — Israel has encountered an opportunity to improve its
relations with war-torn Mali, a report said.

The Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies said France’s military
intervention in Mali could facilitate an Israeli entry into the African
country.

In a report, author Emmanuel Navon asserted that Israel could also
use the Al Qaida war in Mali to improve relations with France as well as other non-Muslim African states.

“This opportunity should be seized by Israel’s next foreign minister,”
the report, titled “Mali: A Diplomatic Opportunity for Israel,” said.

Navon, a consultant on Israeli development projects in Africa, said Mali has felt betrayed by the refusal of Egypt and Tunisia to condemn the Al Qaida-aligned war. The two Arab League states, however, further angered by Mali by condemning France’s military intervention.

“Mali’s feeling of betrayal is reminiscent of Africa’s disappointment in
the Arab and Muslim world in the 1970s, when Libya and Saudi Arabia tried to
use financial incentives to encourage African countries to cut ties with
Israel,” the report, dated Feb. 11, said.

The report said Israel’s effort to expand influence in Africa has been
blocked by Iran. Teheran, which uses Hizbullah for activities n Africa, was
said to have torpedoed an Israeli sewage project in Senegal.

But Navon said African states were becoming increasingly concerned over
Iranian intervention. He said Israel could exploit this opportunity and join
France, particularly under its new president, Francois Hollande.

“Thus, the Malian crisis constitutes an opportunity for Israel to
improve its relations with France and with former French colonies in
Africa,” the report said.

  Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, France, Francois Hollande, French incursion seen boosting Israel’s ties with Mali