New Israeli Ambassador says, Wants other African countries emulate Liberia's support to Israel
The new Israeli Ambassador accredited to Liberia has expressed admiration for Liberia's steadfast friendship towards Israel, citing Liberia as a stellar example of the kind of support and collaboration that Israel seeks in Africa.
Ambassador Roey Gilad commended Liberia for its historical backing of Israel since its establishment in 1948--highlighting Liberia's consistent support for Israel in international arenas.
"Liberia is a great model of friendship that Israel seeks in Africa," Ambassador Gilad told the Daily Observer in an exclusive interview last week. "The state of Israel is grateful to Liberia for always standing with us. And this has been since 1948."
He noted that Liberia, one of very few countries on the African continent that comprehends the geopolitical challenges faced by Israel and often sides with Israel or abstains from contentious votes, actions that Israel deeply appreciates. He expressed appreciation for the country's consistent support for Israel in international forums.
"Liberia is one of the few states that truly understand the geopolitical challenges Israel faces. The government of Liberia either abstains or votes in support of Israel, and we deeply value this cooperation," he said.
Recently accredited to Liberia, Ambassador Gilad met with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and other high-ranking officials, including Vice President Jeremiah Koung, Foreign Minister, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Agriculture Minister, Alexander Nueta, and several other members of the cabinet to discuss bilateral cooperation, with a particular focus on capacity-building initiatives, especially in the agricultural sector.
Gilad described Liberia's support to Israel in the global diplomatic arena as immense, calling on other African countries to do the same.
Israel has been actively seeking to strengthen its ties with African nations, including Liberia, in recent years. Liberia is regarded as a valuable ally by Israel, and Liberia frequently voted alongside Israel at the United Nations and the African Union.
During a visit to Jerusalem in July 2023, former Liberian President George Weah emphasized the strong friendship between Liberia and Israel, highlighting Liberia's plans to establish an embassy in Israel. Weah also met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, with Netanyahu expressing gratitude for Liberia's unwavering diplomatic support.
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen called Liberia "one of Israel's biggest friends in Africa," while Netanyahu also thanked Weah "for Liberia's strong diplomatic support."
In early 2023, an Israeli delegate was expelled from the African Union's annual summit, despite Israel holding observer status, reflecting the ongoing debates within the union regarding Israel's membership. Israel has relied on support from countries like Liberia in navigating these challenges.
Ambassador Gilad, said during the interview, shed light on Israel's strategic priorities and its enduring relationship with Liberia amidst mounting global challenges.
He noted that Israel needs to do more in reciprocating the support Liberia has been giving over the years.
He emphasized Israel's commitment to equipping countries with the necessary skills for sustainable development, and stressed the potential for collaboration in agriculture and capacity-building endeavors in Liberia.
When asked about his goals for strengthening bilateral ties between both countries, the ambassador emphasized Israel's focus on capacity-building, especially in the area of agriculture--adding that the young people, who make up a vast majority of the country's population, should take advantage of these opportunities when they come.
"Our approach is to equip nations with the skills and tools they need for sustainable development. In Liberia, we aim to expand this collaboration further in the area of capacity building, and agriculture," he concluded.
This sentiment was also echoed by Herzog during former President Weah's visit to Israel last year.
"There are so many issues we can work on together, there is a need to advance cooperation in agriculture as soon as possible, and we spoke about other fields of interest including health, defense, and foreign affairs - there are many issues that can be upgraded dramatically," Herzog said in a statement.
Israeli companies that specialize in agritech, solar and other alternative energy technologies operate extensively in African countries, and as such, Liberia can benefit from some.
Ambassador Gilad also discussed cooperation within the energy sector, highlighting potential for future engagement. Responding to questions about potential Israeli support in harnessing renewable energy in the country, the ambassador noted that while energy was not a central topic of his discussions during the visit, it remains a significant area of interest for future collaboration.
"This is my first visit to Liberia, and I focused primarily on presenting my credentials and establishing initial connections. Discussions about energy were not part of this trip, but in my next visit, I intend to meet with the Minister of Energy to better understand Liberia's challenges in this field," he stated.
The ambassador highlighted Israel's recent strides in energy development, particularly its shift toward natural gas. "In the past decade, Israel discovered massive natural gas fields in the Mediterranean within our economic waters. This discovery has enabled a revolution in our energy sector, reducing reliance on oil and shifting toward natural gas."
While acknowledging Israel's expertise in energy innovation, he underscored the need to learn more about Liberia's specific energy landscape before offering support. "Liberia faces many challenges, and while Israel has much to offer, our resources are not limitless. We focus on areas where we excel, particularly capacity building, to ensure our contributions are meaningful and sustainable," he said.
The ambassador reiterated Israel's commitment to fostering meaningful partnerships with Liberia, emphasizing the importance of targeted collaboration. "In my next visit, I hope to engage deeply on this topic and explore ways Israel can be relevant to Liberia's development in the energy sector."
Ambassador Gilad's remarks underscore the potential for expanded cooperation between Israel and Liberia in various areas, including human capacity development, agriculture, and in the future, renewable energy--reflecting Israel's commitment to supporting Liberia's development goals through targeted collaboration and sustainable initiatives.
Israel Faces Threat, Gilad Seeks African Countries' Support
In his exclusive interview with the Observer, the Israeli Ambassador to Liberia outlined the complex geopolitical challenges currently confronting Israel--detailing the active conflicts Israel is addressing on multiple fronts, emphasizing the inimitable scope of these engagements.
"As we speak, Israel is not only operating on two fronts--the well-known conflict in Gaza against Hamas and the front in Lebanon against Hezbollah--but on several additional fronts," the ambassador stated. He noted that while a ceasefire has been established on the northern front with Hezbollah, Israel is still engaged in multiple ongoing conflicts.
"We face threats from the Houthis in Yemen, Shia militias in Iraq and Syria, and above all, from the Islamic Republic of Iran," the ambassador said. He revealed that Iran directly attacked Israel twice this year, on April 14 and October 1, launching hundreds of missiles.
"Previously, Iran could deny involvement by claiming Hamas, Hezbollah, and other groups were acting independently. However, these direct attacks expose their role unequivocally."
The ambassador underscored that Israel is currently addressing six simultaneous fronts, a challenge he described as unparalleled globally. "No other state in the world is facing a similar situation," he remarked, adding, "We've managed to significantly weaken Hezbollah's military capabilities to the point of their surrender."
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Ambassador Gilad wants African Countries, especially those in Sub-Saharan, to understand the complexities of the challenges Israel is facing.
"What we ask our friends in Sub Saharan Africa, West Africa, and now we are in Liberia, is to understand the geopolitical challenge that the State of Israel is facing by facing those six fronts all together," he said. "There is no other state in the world which is facing the same challenge like us in that sense."
He noted that Israel is second to none in the world in the difficulties that we are dealing with day in and day out. Liberia is one of the few states in the world that still understands these challenges. Hence, we do enjoy support of the government of Liberia in different international forums, either abstain or vote for Israel."
Meanwhile, Ambassador Gilad comes with extensive diplomatic experience spanning over 30 years. He has represented the State of Israel in various countries including Kenya, Jordan, the UK, USA, and Turkey.
Prior to his current appointment, Ambassador Gilad worked at the Center for Policy Research at Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and also served as the Director of Export Control within the Ministry, among other roles. With his wealth of diplomatic expertise, Ambassador Gilad aims to strengthen relations between Israel and Ghana at governmental, business, and personal levels.
He expressed his intention to brief Ghanaian leadership and citizens on the challenges Israel is currently facing during his tenure. Ambassador Roey Gilad holds a Bachelor's degree in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Tel Aviv, a Master's degree in Middle Eastern Studies from the Hebrew University, and a postgraduate degree in National Security from the Israeli Military College for National Defense at Haifa University.
He is an enthusiastic marathon runner, having completed 12 marathons worldwide. Ambassador Gilad is married to Nitza Gilad, and they have a daughter named Avigail, who is currently studying in the USA.
