African Christian leaders tour Israel amid growing diplomatic outreach
A delegation of 14 African Christian leaders from four countries is visiting Israel this week, amid increased outreach to tens of millions of Christian supporters across the continent.The faith-based trip highlights the diplomatic tug-of-war between supporters and opponents of the Jewish state in Africa, home to more Christians than any other continent. While South Africa has emerged as one of the fiercest critics of Israel worldwide, other African countries have pushed back and are now further strengthening ties rooted in a mix of shared interests and faith.“It has literally blown my mind how you can use the desert and make it productive,” said Kenyan Bishop Paul Karanja, who was on his first trip to the Holy Land and expressed astonishment at seeing bananas blooming in the Israeli desert.Karanja organized a march for Israel in the Kenyan capital last year to counter local and global anti-Israel activity, underscoring the biblical foundation…
A delegation of 14 African Christian leaders from Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda is touring Israel this week, organized by the Israeli embassy in Kenya and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This initiative is part of Israel's increased diplomatic outreach to millions of Christian supporters across Africa, a continent with more Christians than any other. The visit aims to strengthen ties amid a diplomatic tug-of-war, countering anti-Israel sentiment, particularly among younger generations susceptible to negative social media narratives. Kenyan Bishop Paul Karanja expressed astonishment at Israel's agricultural innovations, stating, "Our destiny will not be secured if we cannot connect ourselves to Israel." The tour included holy sites, tech centers, and a location from the October 7, 2023, attacks, highlighting Israel's strategic focus on religious diplomacy in Africa, where 30 Christian-majority countries hold significant UN votes.
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