Israel is once again using the occasion of this year’s General Assembly session to reap a number of diplomatic benefits.
In the past week, it has established diplomatic relations here with a number of countries, including Cambodia, Burkina Faso, Gabon and Mauritius.
But the diplomatic gains appear to pale by comparison with those of last winter, when Israel forged ties with China and India.
Now that Israel has broken the diplomatic cocoon that encased it for much of its statehood, the only major outstanding challenge is establishing relations with the Arab world.
On that score, several nations in northern Africa and along the Persian Gulf have expressed interest in relations, but none of them appears to be ready to take the diplomatic plunge.
Morocco’s King Hassan II met with Israeli leaders in Rabat last month, but so far Egypt remains the only Arab nation to establish ties with the Jewish state.
But representatives of Morocco and the Persian Gulf state of Qatar did attend a reception sponsored by the Israeli Mission here.
The recognition agreements concluded here at the United Nations were each signed by Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, who was here to address the General Assembly last week.
He met last week with Foreign Minister Ahmud Swalay Kasenally of the African island republic of Mauritius and with Foreign Minister Pascaline Mserri Bongo of the African republic of Gabon.
During the brief signing ceremonies, the foreign ministers discussed receiving assistance from Israel in the fields of agriculture and economic development.
Diplomatic relations between Israel and the two countries were suspended following the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
This week, Peres attended signing ceremonies with Prince Sirivudh of Cambodia and with Foreign Minister Thomas Sanon of the African nation of Burkina Faso.
Burkina Faso, previously named Upper Volta, also severed relations with Israel after the Yom Kippur War, as did all but four nations of Africa: Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa and Swaziland.
During their meeting Monday, Prince Sirivudh requested help from Israel in the area of agricultural development as part of Cambodia’s effort to rebuild its economy after 20 years of civil war.
Peres also met Monday with Foreign Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab of Namibia, which has no diplomatic relations with Israel.
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