Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to the Gambia
The Gambia's relations with the Zionist state, renewed in 1992 and handled from Dakar, Israeli MASHAV training and farm aid, and the 2024 Banjul summit of Muslim states that accused the Zionist state of genocide in Gaza
The Gambia renewed diplomatic relations with "Israel" in September 1992. "Israel" is represented by its ambassador in Senegal and an honorary consul in Banjul.[1] In May 2024 Banjul hosted the summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), chaired by President Adama Barrow. Its final communiqué accused "the Israeli occupation forces" of genocide in Gaza and called for sanctions on "Israel".[2]
Jewish community and religious life
History
No historic Jewish community in the Gambia was found in the sources consulted.
The community today
No organised Jewish community was found in the Gambia.
How far is it Zionist? No Jewish or Zionist body was found in the Gambia.
Chabad
- Main article: Chabad-Lubavitch movement
Powerbase does not yet have a page on Chabad in the Gambia, and the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States lists no rabbi there.[3]
Zionist movement and advocacy
No organised Zionist movement was found in the Gambia.
Israeli state and commercial ties
Diplomacy and aid
- Ifri lists the Gambia among the African countries where "Israel" has an honorary consul.[4] In 2021 the Israeli cabinet approved Ben Bourgel as ambassador to Senegal, also accredited to the Gambia.[5]
- In November 2009 Ambassador Gideon Behar, based in Dakar, told The Point that "Israel" had given leadership training to 42 people from the Ministry of Basic Education that year. He said there were plans to introduce a "Tipa" irrigation system like the one introduced in Senegal. During his visit he met the Imam Ratib of Banjul and the Mayor of Banjul, Samba Faal, who had attended a mayors' conference in "Israel".[6]
- In May 2013 the Israeli embassy in Dakar held a reception in the Gambia to mark the 65th anniversary of the state. Foreign Minister Susan Waffa-Ogoo said that "Israel" was "a model state of modernity and development". She also backed a two-state solution. Ambassador Eli Ben-Tura said that several Gambians travel to "Israel" every year for courses run by MASHAV, the Israeli development agency.[7]
- In December 2020 the Israeli deputy chief of mission, Waleed Gadban, opened a farming project funded by MASHAV and delivered food supplies for 400 families.[8]
Arms
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute records no Israeli deliveries of major weapons to the Gambia.[9]
Trade
The Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics does not list the Gambia separately in its main table of trade by country. The Gambia falls under "Other Countries".[10]
Migration and aliyah
The Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics does not list the Gambia separately in its table of immigrants by country of birth.[11]
Political interference
The 2024 Banjul summit
The OIC summit of 4–5 May 2024 was held in Banjul under Barrow's chairmanship. Its final communiqué, published by the Gambian presidency, condemned "the crime of genocide being committed by the Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinian people" and called for "an immediate, permanent and unconditional ceasefire". It also called for "imposing sanctions on Israel, the occupying power, and halting the export of weapons and ammunition used by its army".[2]
Jeffrey Epstein
In January 2012 the flight planners for Jeffrey Epstein's plane were arranging a landing permit for Cape Verde and overflight permits for Guinea-Bissau, Guinea and the Gambia, "small african nations that we need and always obtain overflights for", on legs from Abidjan.[12]
See also
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Senegal
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Mauritania
Notes
- ↑ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Diplomatic Missions Abroad: Status of relations mfa.gov.il, archived 5 August 2011.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Final Communiqué, 15th Islamic Summit Conference (Banjul Summit) Office of the President of the Gambia, May 2024.
- ↑ Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States, The Rabbis rabbisalliance.org, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ Benjamin Augé, Israel-Africa Relations: What Can We Learn from the Netanyahu Decade? Études de l'Ifri, Ifri, November 2020.
- ↑ Meet the 36 new ambassadors approved to new posts around the world The Jerusalem Post, 20 June 2021.
- ↑ Thumbs Up For Israel/Gambia Relations The Point, 17 November 2009.
- ↑ Abdoulie Nyockeh, Israel Embassy 65th Independence Anniversary in Banjul The Point, 20 May 2013.
- ↑ New Israel deputy Chief of Mission visits Gambia The Point, 23 December 2020.
- ↑ Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, SIPRI Arms Transfers Database SIPRI, accessed 20 October 2026.
- ↑ Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel), Foreign Trade Statistics Monthly, Table D1: Trade Countries – Imports and Exports CBS, December 2025 issue (library copy).
- ↑ Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel), Statistical Abstract of Israel 2024, Table 2.55: Immigrants, by period of immigration, country of birth and last country of residence CBS, 2024.
- ↑ Email to Jeffrey Epstein, "Update", 17 January 2012, US Department of Justice Epstein files release, Data Set 9, EFTA00647682 (mirror), accessed 21 October 2026.