Senegal, Israel quash diplomatic crisis at ECOWAS Summit

Senegal and Israel have quashed the diplomatic crisis between the two countries on the sidelines of the ECOWAS Summit in Liberia.

Senegalese President Macky Sall and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a brief meeting on Sunday in Monrovia before announcing an end to the crisis.

ראש הממשלה בנימין נתניהו ונשיא סנגל מאקי סאל נפגשו בשולי ועידת ECOWAS בליבריה. בתום הפגישה הודיעו שני המנהיגים על סיום המשבר בין המדינות. pic.twitter.com/VRGhLGbbiv

— ראש ממשלת ישראל (@IsraeliPM_heb) June 4, 2017

The crisis between the two countries started in 2016 when Senegal co-sponsored a United Nations resolution which declared Israel’s policy to build settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank illegal and a violation under international law.

Senegal was one of the Security Council’s 10 non-permanent members. It defended its vote saying it was abiding by its diplomatic vision.

Israel responded by vowing to punish the states that backed the resolution. It canceled its foreign aid programmes in Senegal and withdrew its resident ambassador from Dakar.

Netanyahu had later softened his stance and restored ties with Ukraine, and Britain who also voted for the resolution.

Benjamin Netanyahu attended the 51st ECOWAS Summit in Liberia as the first non-African leader to do so. He called on the West African leaders to join forces with Israel and support its reinstatement into the African Union as an observer.