| Israel / SA relations Former Israeli Ambassador, Tova Herzl, prior to leaving South Africa in 2002 said: “Israel attributes great importance to its relations with Africa as a whole, and with its component countries. Above and beyond political, strategic and economic considerations, there is a strong identification with the peoples of Africa and specifically South Africa. A sense of shared fate. Even a superficial glance of our separate histories of racial victimization will show why”. We have a great deal in common. " There is a vibrant Jewish community in South Africa and a large contingent of South African Olim in Israel. The excellent relations between the S.A. Jewish community and Israel is extremely important. The Embassy gives great importance to strengthening the bond between the Jewish community and the State of Israel. Israel has made it a priority, a principled policy, to share its experiences in many relevant fields with the African countries. After all, who more than Israel has a record of building a country almost from scratch. Showing remarkable success in agriculture, education, community services and other aspects of nation building. This past year (2004) has been a very positive year in the relations between Israel and South Africa. We saw a visit of a Likud delegation to South Africa in July 2004. During August, South Africa's Director General of Foreign Affairs Dr. Ayanda Ntsaluba visited Israel. October saw the visit of Vice Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert to SA accompanied by an impressive trade delegation and immediately thereafter an ANC delegation visited Israel. On the 8th February 2005, President Mbeki personally called the Charge D'Affaires at the Israeli Embassy, to congratulate Prime Minister Sharon on the peace initiative with the Palestinians. This historic and assuring phone call was very positive and promising. It is hoped that this growing positive trend and good relations between our two countries will continue to grow and that peace will prevail. During his recent Address at the Second Joint Sitting of the Third Democratic Parliament Cape Town on February 11 2005, the President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki said : ".... (we) wish the new Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, the peoples of Palestine and Israel lasting peace in states that co-exist in conditions of security for all, cooperation and human solidarity. I would also like to take advantage of this occasion warmly to congratulate and salute Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas for the bold steps they have taken during the last few days to communicate a firm message of hope to their respective peoples. I would like to assure them that in this regard, they have the unequivocal support of our government and the overwhelming majority of our people." | 
