Thursday, February 24, 2011

Africa (1983)

African States reestablish diplomatic relations with Israel, Apartheid, Gaddafi

Today's Golden Oldie is from 1983.

Back then, Apartheid still held South Africa in its grip while the mad tyrant Gaddafi ruled in Libya to the north. As of this writing Gaddafi (crazier than ever) is still clinging to power in Libya.

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Background to the cartoon:
In 1973 Israel was hit by a successful Egyptian surprise attack. We call it the "Yom Kippur War". They call it the "October War". Israel recovered, turned the tide, and pushed invading Egyptian troops back. The Arab States, displeased by Israel's survival pressured African States to cut ties with the Jewish State.
According to Mongabay.com:

"after the October 1973 War twenty-nine African states severed diplomatic relations with Israel. Malawi, Lesotho, and Swaziland were the only sub-Saharan countries to maintain diplomatic relations with Israel.

The African "embargo" of Israel began to collapse after the 1978 Camp David Accords and the establishment of diplomatic relations between Egypt and Israel. Following Zaire's lead in 1982, Liberia (1983), the Cote d'Ivoire (1986), Cameroon (1986), and Togo (1987) renewed diplomatic ties with Israel" -more

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