Israel and Kenya share common vision on governance, says envoy

If you are naïve, you may be persuaded by the argument that Israeli is a “small” country.

“We are smaller than Tsavo National Park,” Israeli ambassador Jacob Keidar said during an interview in his office.

At 21,000 square kilometres, Tsavo National Park-East and West-is the largest protected habitat for wildlife in Kenya.

Israel covers 20,700 square kilometres, and measures 424 kilometres from north to south.

Fine. Israel may be small in size, but it has been at the centre of global politics for decades owing to the controversial story of its proclamation and religious heritage.

The influence

Typical of Israeli diplomats, Mr Keidar disagrees with the suggestion that his country wields great influence in world politics.

“We are not a superpower like the United States. Superpowers have more political leverage than we do. We are a small country and a bit more humble,” he said.

This is the mantra of Israeli diplomacy – a cleverly calculated strategy to project humility, victimhood and the desire for self-preservation in the midst of hostility.

Mr Keidar doesn’t agree. He says Israel captures world attention because of its geopolitical importance. “It is considered a holy place by Christians and is the only democracy in the Middle East.”

“There is also curiosity that such a small country without natural resources is one of the most successful in the Middle East and has probably the highest of number Nobel laureates in science.”

Pull strings

Though influential, Israeli diplomats prefer to pull their strings behind the curtains, away from the megaphone.

One may not have seen Israel’s hand in efforts to broker peace following the 2008 post-election violence in Kenya at a time when diplomats from the European Union, Britain, and the United States were visible and vocal. Israelis were at the centre of the conversation but only exercised their influence behind closed doors.

And during that time Mr Keidar learnt two attributes Kenyans share with his countrymen: resilience and optimism.

He says that despite the odds, Kenyans seemed hopeful that a peace deal would be struck.

Mr Keidar compares the Kenyan spirit with the Israeli attitude that the suggested two-state solution for the Middle-East conflict will come to fruition.

The solution envisages Palestinian and Israeli states existing side by side in peace.

He also points out that the problems facing the grand coalition are not unique to Kenya. Israel has been run by coalition governments since 1948.

“There will be difficulties and delays in a coalition but always ensure that there is movement,” he said. The diplomat describes negotiation and compromise as the lifeblood of any political coalition.

Israel has enjoyed diplomatic relations with Kenya since 1963. It considers Kenya a key partner in the war on radicalism and terrorism. But he cautions against the sentiment that terrorists target only Israelis and Americans.

According to the envoy, terrorism is a threat to everybody who doesn’t share the thinking of the perpetrators.

“The highest number of victims of terror groups such as Hizbollah, al-Qaeda, Islamic Jihad are Muslims.”

The embassy in Nairobi also handles Israel’s diplomatic interests in Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Uganda and Seychelles.

Israeli-Kenyan cooperation revolves around security, agriculture, education, health and trade.

Water management

Through the Israeli Agency for International Development Cooperation, hundreds of Kenyans have undergone training in water management, medicine, agriculture and engineering.

There is a plan by Israel to revive the Kibwezi Dry Land farm that collapsed in the 1990s. The farm had been run by Israelis, but it stalled after being handed over to locals.

In a deal reached with the University of Nairobi, Israeli firm Hydro Eco Kenya Limited, will run the farm for the next 20 years during which it will set up an agricultural training centre on the 1,200-acre farm to cultivate sweet peppers, onions, cassava, maize and beans.

The Israeli government will provide 50 per cent of the cash while Hydro Eco will invest the rest.