A major parliamentary and diplomatic push is underway in Liberia to open an embassy in Jerusalem this year, restoring a bilateral relationship that is rooted in the birth of the Jewish state and that would propel African-Israeli ties to a historic first.
The faith-based initiative would fulfill a 2023 pledge by the predominantly Christian West African nation to reopen its embassy in Israel. It was shuttered a half-century ago amid a cutoff in ties due to African political interests and alignments with the Arab world.
“I strongly believe and am optimistic that we will see this achieved this year,” said Liberian Rep. Moimah Briggs Mensah, who serves as the head of the Liberian Israel Allies Caucus and is leading the parliamentary initiative.
Mensah told JNS on Monday that the move had the strong support of many of her colleagues, including Liberia’s influential speaker of the House of Representatives, Johnathan K. Koffa.
She added that she would be pressing the case in a meeting with Liberian President Joseph Boakai this month, ahead of a trip to Jerusalem next month of pro-Israel lawmakers from around the world.
