The Ambassador of the State of Israel to Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra-Leone, Shlomit Sufa, and the Director for West African Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, Zvi Tal, in a bid to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation between Israel and Liberia, paid a courtesy visit to Defense Minister, Geraldine Janet George.
The Israeli Ambassador said the aim of the visit was to understand the challenges that Liberia is faced with in the defense sector and the strategic vision of the Ministry of National Defense, in order for Israel to ensure that the Ministry successfully achieves its long-term goals.
Speaking further, Zvi Tal, Director for West African Affairs, briefly narrated the current Israeli conflict with Hamas.
Defense Minister George sympathized with Israel regarding their current conflict with Hamas.
She then utilized the opportunity to narrate the numerous forms of assistance offered by Israel to the Government and people of Liberia over the years.
She presented three major requests for consideration: constructing a new defense headquarters, providing specialized intelligence training for the Department of Defense Intelligence (DDI), and assisting the Liberia Coast Guard (LCG) with well-equipped military patrol boats to enhance the LCG operations.
She iterated that Liberians can recollect that Israel assisted Liberia to establish the late President Tubman’s Open Door Policy in the late 1950s that brought economic development to Liberia’s interior.
Besides, private Israeli businesses have also provided both large-scale construction projects in Liberia. Examples are the Ducor Hotel, Executive Mansion, and the demolished Defense Ministry building projects.
The Defense boss further emphasized that Israel also helped develop Liberia’s medical capabilities, and that Liberia, in 1967, after the Six-Day War, was the first African country to move its embassy in Jerusalem, Israel.
Collaboration, shared challenges and the exploring of potential areas for improvement between Liberia and Israel, were key points highlighted during the visit.
