What's New

Resources updated between Monday, July 19, 2021 and Sunday, July 25, 2021

July 25, 2021

A protest at the 2001 Durban Conference (File photo)

Germany will boycott the Durban IV conference

July 24, 2021

July 23, 2021

Family members grieve after the death of Fartun Hassan Ahmed. (Photo courtesy Global Media Campaign to End FGM)

Death of 13-year-old girl sparks calls for action on female genital mutilation in Somalia

July 22, 2021

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara met with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta in Nairobi, Kenya, on July 5, 2016. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)

"Israel will be joining the African Union as an observer state, the Foreign Ministry announced Thursday.

Israel’s ambassador to Addis Ababa, Aleleign Admasu, submitted Israel’s charter as an observer member to the 55-member continental organization.

Israel enjoyed observer status in the predecessor Organization of African Unity until 2002, when the organization dissolved itself and became the African Union.

'This is a day of celebration for Israel-Africa relations,' said Foreign Minister Yair Lapid. 'This diplomatic achievement is the result of efforts by the Foreign Ministry, the African Division, and Israeli embassies on the continent.'

'This corrects the anomaly that existed for almost two decades,' Lapid continued, 'and is an important part of strengthening of fabric of Israel’s foreign relations. This will help us strengthen our activities in the continent and in the organization’s member states.'

Israel has relations with 46 of the AU member states. Israel reestablished relations with Guinea in 2016 and with Chad in 2019.

In October 2020, Israel also signed a normalization agreement with Sudan.

The Foreign Ministry said the development would allow for better cooperation on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and on combating terrorism..."

Israel to join African Union as observer after being kept out for 2 decades

July 21, 2021

A pro-Palestinian demonstration in London, May 9, 2021 (Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

Antisemitism rose 365% in UK due to Israel-Gaza war - report

Ben and Jerry's (File photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

Ben & Jerry’s boycott ripples through Jewish world, mixed with legal threats

Women in Afghanistan (File photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

Afghan women grapple with prospect of life under the Taliban again

July 20, 2021

Palestinian police (File photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

Palestinian Authority arrests singer for performing in settlement

July 19, 2021

A car belonging to an Israeli family that was hit by rocks thrown by Palestinians near Damascus Gate, in Jerusalem, July 18, 2021. (United Hatzalah)

Parents, infant child injured by Palestinian rock-throwing near Jerusalem’s Damascus Gate