Israeli prime minister, Netanyahu denies dumping refugees in Uganda

KAMPALA.

His earlier comments undoubtedly stirred bewilderment among the Israeli visitors, and it was all clear to see. The icy comments on the Uganda-Palestine bond, killing of innocent people, and fighting using uncivilised methods, they all seemed like slip of a tongue but were digested nonetheless.

President Museveni, however, used the occasion later at State House to lighten up things a bit by praising Israel’s tenacity of continuing to fight-on in the midst of an antagonistic surrounding since its founding in 1948, which he described as an inspiration to Africa.

“We salute the people of Israel who have since 1948 stood up and defended the heritage of the Jewish people,” he noted, citing persecution of the Jews during the Second World War and other experiences that came before. “I commend Israel for defending itself since 1948. I salute its founding fathers and subsequent leaders.”

The past factor
President Museveni, also said the Israeli raid on Entebbe exactly 40 years on Monday had become a bonding factor the Middle Eastern country and Africa.
He made the remarks at a joint briefing with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after a closed door meeting with select heads of state. These included Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, Zambia’s Edgar Lungu, South Sudan’s Salva Kiir, and Ethiopian premier Hailemariam Desalegn. Malawian and Tanzanian leaders were represented by their foreign affairs ministes.

“The leaders gathered here today represent over 300 million people in Africa,” he said. “It is a testament of our resolve to work closely with Israel on issues of mutual interest and learn more.”
During the closed door meeting, the African leaders and Mr Netanyahu, according to a communiqué read out later by Foreign Affairs minister, agreed to advance cooperation in the areas of security—fighting terrorism—and economic cooperation.

Mr Netanyahu said he had previously held conversations with the countries whose leaders were invited “and today’s meeting puts flesh on the structure.” He said his country will help these African countries in the area of agriculture to share technology and best practices. “Israel is the best partners of African friends,” he said. “I believe in Africa, in your future and our partnership. This meeting is a turning point in Israel reaching out to other countries.

Refugees

Mr Netanyahu, was also asked by journalists about recent reports that his country had struck a deal with some African countries to receive thousands of illegal asylum seekers/refugees presumed to be contaminating the identity of the Jewish state.

This, he denied by describing the reports as “false” and defended that people who referred to themselves as asylum seekers did not actually qualify for the category, which explained the ongoing conversations to be returned to their respective countries of origin. But like any other country, especially in the wake of the immigration crisis, they had embarked on strict immigration guidelines.

In his address at the old Entebbe airport terminal where 40 years ago, an elite squad of the Israel Defence Forces launched a clinical mission to rescue at least 103 Israelis who had been held hostage at the base, President Museveni deliberately went off-guard and described the episode had become another instrument of “bonding the Holy Land – Israel/ Palestine – with the heartland of Uganda in particular, and Africa in general.”