"The idea of settling conflicts between peoples by peaceful means applies to all countries, in the Middle East as in Vietnam" said Prime Minister of the Gambia, Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara in Jerusalem in October 1966, after signing a Treaty of Friendship between the Gambia and Israel with Prime Minister Levy Eshkol.
That was Sir Dawda's third visit to Jerusalem. Israel was his first foreign destination after being elected Prime Minister of the Gambia for the first time in 1962. Foreign Minister Golda Meir reciprocated, by being the first world leader to recognize The Gambia in a message to Sir Dawda, upon receiving independence in 1965. These special relations continued after Sir Dawda was elected first President of the Gambia in 1970.
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