| dc.description.abstract | One of the areas that continue to have high
political tension threatening to explode into violence
is the Middle East. This is an area occupied predominantly
by the Arab people but also by Jews concentrated in the
state of Israel. The Arabs occupy the states of Lebanon,
Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt to name only
a few.
This thesis examines the Arab-Israeli conflict in so
far as it relates for rivalry for support in East Africa.
It attempts to analyze methods used to achieve diplomatic
support from each of the three East African countries
namely, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
The--study examines the constant threat of war which
dominates Israeli policy makers and the fear of_being isolated
internationally. Given this fear of isolation the Israelis
are constantly working hard to win friends internationally,
at the United Nations (U.N.), within the Orqanization of
African Unity (OAU) and for the purpose of this study the
three East African States of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Israel has gone out to develop economic interest in Africa.
It sees Africa as a potential market for manufacture~
goods, as an area where corporate investments can be made.
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Since it has a surplus of skilled labour, it can provide
some of it to Black African Countries in need. The study
looks at how Israel has used these programs to secure
recognition and diplomatic support for its rivalry with
the Arabs.
The Arabs on their part have also gone to win
support in international and regional forums for their
cause against the Israeli State. Arab League has £rom
time to time worked t~ diminish Israeli presence in
Black Africa. The Arabs have staunch supporters of the
Liberation struggles in Black Africa. Cairo has been a
centre of assistance to Liberation movements. Radio
Cairo has been lending moral and ideological support to
Liberation movements in Black Africa. In the 1960's it
was broadcasting in seven different African languages.
Egypt has over the years sent teachers to several African
countries as part of Arab contribution to development
of these countries.
The study goes on to examine how the three East
African countries of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania responded
to the Arab-Israeli rivalry by analyzing official government
statements on the Middle East situation particularly
their reaction to individual events, exchanqe of State
visits, voting pattern on Arab-Israeli conflict at the
United Nations.
V)'L
Finally, the study concludes that both the Arab' (
and the Israelis have fared differently in their rivalry
for support in East Africa. During the period under study
Israel secured diplomatic recognition from all Black
African states, East African states included. At the
United Nations, Uganda was more Pro-Israel during early
years of Idi Amin rule, while Tanzania was Pro-Arab, and
Kenya was more or less neutral. On the other hand
Israel failed to force the Arab states to recognize her
i.e. during the period under study. | en |
