FM Sa'ar opens Israeli embassy in Zambia
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
FM Sa'ar: Relations between our countries are not only based on common interests, they are also rooted in shared values. And I know that together we will do great things.
Type: Events and Speeches
Topic: Foreign Policy
Publish Date: 20.08.2025
Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar today (Wednesday, 20 August 2025) opened the Israeli embassy in Lusaka, Zambia. Following is his speech at the opening ceremony:
"Foreign Minister of Zambia Mulambo Haimbe, my dear friend,
Minster of Defense,
Members of Parliament,
Ambassadors,
Distinguished Guests,
It is an honor and a privilege to be here in Lusaka and open Israel's embassy.
It is a truly exciting moment to raise our flag - the Israeli flag - and to hear HaTikvah, here in Zambia, after 52 years.
And it is the beginning of a new chapter between our nations.
Relations between our countries are not only based on common interests.
They are also rooted in shared values.
These are relations between two nations of believers:
Believers in ancient traditions based on the holy Bible.
It is an alliance of believers.
And I know that together we will do great things.
****
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I bring you greetings from Jerusalem D.C., David's Capital - the eternal capital of our ancient homeland and the Jewish people.
I come from the land of Israel, where the Jewish people are realizing the ancient visions of the Biblical prophets.
The prophets of the Bible envisioned that the Jewish people would return to the promised land - and so we did.
But we always - throughout our 2,000 years of exile - maintained a continuous Jewish presence in the land of Israel.
In Jerusalem. In Hebron. In Tiberias. In Tzfat.
And I want to tell you a story.
When I was a young Cabinet Secretary, Ariel Sharon was the Foreign Minister. He later became Prime Minister. The Prime Minister then, in 1999, was also Benjamin Netanyahu.
Minister Sharon told me about a visit to the Vatican where he met Pope John Paul II. Immediately when he entered, the Pope asked him, "Foreign Minister, do you know the difference between Terra Sancta and Terra Promissionis?"
He didn't give him time to think and immediately told him: "Holy - for all three religions. Promised - only to the Jews." And he repeated that a few times.
Minister, in your visit to Israel last June, you visited the ancient Biblical sites in Jerusalem and Samaria.
You saw that these visions have become a reality.
We are a proud and ancient nation.
And Israel is a strong and modern country.
Militarily.
Technologically.
Economically.
It is a powerhouse in a stormy region.
But it also a force for good in the world.
And we are a resilient nation, overcoming the many, many challenges we face.
We want to share our successes and capabilities with our friends.
And Zambia is a friend, and I believe in Zambia's future.
And frankly, we want to be a part of it.
Many countries in Africa are lining up for Israel to open an embassy in their capitals, these days.
We choose to begin in Zambia.
I promised that to my colleague in our first phone call last January.
And we are doing it today.
We believe in Zambia's potential.
We believe that Zambia is a country of values - domestically and in its foreign policy.
We believe Zambia is a strategic partner for Israel in the southern part of Africa.
And we are both nations of faith, with strong roots, who believe in a better future.
*****
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Relations with Zambia go back to its independence in 1964.
Zambia's first President, Kenneth Kaunda, formed relations with Israel.
Unfortunately - like other African countries - Zambia decided in 1973 to break its diplomatic relations with Israel.
And they were restored in 1991.
In 2015, President Lungu opened Zambia's embassy in Israel.
He passed away a few months ago. I send my condolences to the people of Zambia.
The same spirit of friendship continues today under President Hichilema.
We fondly remember his visit to Israel in 2023.
And then in this visit he asked us to open an Israeli embassy in Lusaka.
This spirit of friendship was expressed in Zambia's moral stance alongside Israel.
I commend you for submitting an advisory opinion - supporting Israel - in the distorted procedure in the International Court of Justice.
****
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The new embassy will surely contribute to our bilateral relations and partnerships with Zambia.
Despite being a small country - Israel is sharing its knowledge and capabilities with its friends.
We are establishing these days a trauma and emergency unit in a hospital in Livingston.
We also host the 11-month Internship in Agriculture for hundreds of Zambian students in the Israeli Negev.
As the book of Psalms says: God has restored us to our ancient homeland, like "streams in the Negev".
With our technology, we are making the Negev, our desert, bloom.
We are sharing that knowledge today with Zambian students.
Hundreds have already been trained in Israel. And another 150 students will be trained in Israel this coming year.
We also host special courses, especially for Zambia, in water-management, food security and agriculture.
Many Israeli NGOs are operating in Zambia.
And I want to mention a few due to the fact that they are doing a great job:
Save a Child's Heart,
Innovation Africa,
Tevel B'Tzedek,
CultivAid,
And more to come.
Israel is truly proud to help its friends.
****
I want to thank Ambassador Ofra Farhi for her hard work.
But I promise her - now you'll work even harder.
I also want to thank the head of our Africa Division - Deputy Director-General Sharon Bar-Li - for her tireless efforts to promote Israel's engagement with Africa as a whole and with Zambia specifically.
I also thank the many hard-working men and women in the Foreign Ministry - who made this day possible. And all those in Zambia's Ministry who helped them.
Today, ladies and gentlemen, Israel is returning to Zambia.
And we are strengthening the alliance of believers - between our nations, between our peoples.
Strengthening our engagement with the African continent's countries is part of my strategic goals for the Foreign Ministry in Israel in 2025.
And opening our Embassy here in Zambia is one of the cornerstones of this plan.
We will strengthen our relations.
We will deepen our partnerships.
And we will work together to create a better future for both of our nations.
Thank you!"
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