Chadian president pays first visit to Israel

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Chad's President Idriss Deby on Sunday became the first Chadian leader to pay an official visit to Israel, expressing his wish to restore diplomatic ties between the two countries. One source told Reuters the visit is focused on security, adding that Israel has supplied Chad's army with weapons and equipment this year to help fight rebels.

Both Deby and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the visit "historic" and pledged their wish to renew the relations between the two sides.

"We never fully stopped our contacts, but we are now expanding them at a very rapid rate," Netanyahu said, wishing to do so in all areas and "first of all in fighting terrorism."

Deby's visit focuses on security and economic cooperation. He said that relations between Israel and Chad were severed in 1972, "but our special relations continued all the time." Unofficial contact between Israel and Chad has been ongoing for an extended period, Deby said.

"The resumption of diplomatic relations with your country, which I desire, does not make us ignore the Palestinian issue," said Deby, adding that "my country is profoundly attached to the peace process."

Deby stressed that Chad and Israel struggle "a common battle" against terrorism. Chad is engaged in operations against Boko Haram and ISIL militants.

Wasel Abu Youssef, a senior Palestinian official, voiced displeasure over Deby's visit.

"All countries and institutions must boycott the extremist government of Israel and impose a siege on it because of its settlement activities, its occupation of Palestinian land," Youssef said.

(Cover: File photo of Chad's President Idriss Deby. /VCG Photo)

(With inputs from Xinhua News Agency and Reuters)