Security, fiscal hiccups deny Dodoma of Tel Aviv embassy
Ongoing armed conflict with Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups are draining the Israel’s resources.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2024
By Patty Magubira
The Tranquility News Reporter, Tanzania
Israel’s envoy to Kenya Michael Lotem disclosed here that establishing an Israeli embassy in Tanzania’s Capital of Dodoma is currently not a priority for the Tel Aviv government.
He attributed this decision to significant budgetary demands from Israel’s defense sector, particularly due to the ongoing armed conflict with Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups.
Mr Lotem emphasized that beyond financial constraints, the broader geopolitical landscape plays a crucial role in such diplomatic decisions.
“We would like to see more political support from Tanzania,” stated the envoy, highlighting the importance of political alliances in shaping Israel’s diplomatic footprint in the region.
He made the remarks in an exclusive interview with The Tranquility News on the sidelines of of the 1st East African Community (EAC) Malaria Stakeholders meeting held in Arusha, underscoring the intersection of pressing regional health concerns and international diplomatic priorities.
Save for Malawi, which stood firmly with Israel when the war broke out last year, many African countries had sidelined the country, he recalled. Malawi went ahead to open its embassy in Israel in April this year when other countries closed theirs.
As if it was not enough, Malawi had deployed its experts in various disciplines to meet the shortage in manpower Israel was facing in almost all sectors.
In its bid to reciprocate the Malawi’s unwavering bilateral diplomatic ties, Israel is mulling over sending experts for the agricultural sector to Malawi, said Mr Lotem, emphasizing that economic relations were a solid base for bilateral relations.
The Gaza-Israel conflict is part of the Israel-Palestinian conflict dating back to 1948 when 200,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes to settle in Gaza strip as refugees.
Israel has been involved in a series of battles against factions in the Gaza Strip. The number of Gazans reportedly killed in the ongoing war is said to be higher than the death toll of all other battles of the Arab-Israel conflict.
The Tanzania Ambassador to Israel, Mr Alex Kalua, admits on the embassy’s website that there was a 22-year hiatus compounded by the Yom Kippur War before the two states opened a new diplomatic chapter in 1995.
“However, Israel contacts with Tanzania have been conducted solely through Nairobi, Kenya,” he explains.
Mr Lotem, aprofessional diplomat who started his diplomatic journey in Swaziland in 1993, spent most of his 30-year service promoting trade and economic relations as an important pillar in supporting bilateral relations.
The Israel Ambassador to Kenya is accredited to Malawi and Uganda, and is designate to Tanzania and Seychelles.
The two-day conference on malaria was born few months ago following the visit of four Israeli researchers at Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) in Nairobi to discuss measures for malaria prevention, clinical treatment and use of technologies.
Much as malaria is a regional challenge, the Israeli researchers and their Kenyan counterparts agreed to hold the conference that brought together medical doctors and other scientists from across the EAC partner states, some physically and others virtually.
Mr Lotem wondered that one of the Israeli professors attending the meeting was based at the centre for tropical diseases in Hamburg, Germany, saying East Africa, where the diseases in question were a big challenge, was actually supposed to host such a big centre.
“I hope concrete actions will follow after the meeting initiated for medical doctors and scientists to share information and knowledge in a bid to reduce deaths and improve lives of the people in the region,” said the Israel envoy, stressing:
“Malaria is almost nonexistent in Israel, we’re here simply because we care.” Indeed, numbers are shocking, as malaria is estimated to rob Africa of its 600,000 loved ones each yearΩ
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The Tranquility News Reporter/Sub Editor, Tanzania
Patty Magubira is an experienced environmental and business editor whose career started at the Tanzania's state-owned newspaper - The Daily News. He is a man of perfection. Aided by his extensive training as a community forestry expert before joining Tanzania School of Journalism. Magubira had successfully held various key posts in newsrooms, giving him an unmatched connections in media fraternity. Having worked as a bureau chief in Arusha and Mwanza, he managed to build a team work, boosting sales to the highest level ever. He was then promoted to a sub-editor after completing a training in Nairobi, Kenya. His incredible experience, critical thinking and exposure are critical to the quality of any media outlet.
