Relations Between Israel and African States May Be Thawing

A thawing in relations between Israel and the African states appeared today to be one of the outcomes of Premier Yitzhak Rabin’s attendance of the 13th conference of the Socialist International in Geneva last week. Rabin, who returned to Israel early this morning made special mention of his talks in Geneva with President Leopold Senghor of Senegal

He stressed that it was the first official meeting between an Israeli Premier and a Black African head of state since the Yom Kippur War when most African governments severed diplomatic ties with Israel. Rabin did not disclose details of the meeting. He said they had exchanged opinions and estimations but did not deal “with concrete matters.”

Other sources in the Israeli delegation returning from Geneva said that Senghor told Rabin the African states had not cut off all relations with Israel but merely suspended them “temporarily.” According to these sources, further “contacts” can be expected between Israel and the African countries.

Meanwhile, it was learned that former Chancellor Willy Brandt of West Germany, the newly elected president of the Socialist International, and Premier Mario Soares of Portugal have accepted Rabin’s invitation to come to Israel in February for the Labor Party conference. Other European leaders expected to attend as guests of the party, include West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt and Chancellor Bruno Kreisky of Austria.