Israel warns Nigeria ahead of 2019, wants embassy moved to Jerusalem

Israel warns Nigeria ahead of 2019 elections, wants embassy moved to Jerusalem

     |Published Sunday, November 04, 2018 | 17:15 CET

The Israeli city of Jerusalem

Ahead of the 2019 general elections, the Embassy of Israel in Nigeria has warned of impending crisis, calling on Nigerians to eschew bitterness and work for peace instead of stoking ethnic and religious crisis.

Speaking at the 23th Memorial Lecture/ Anniversary of Late Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzhak Rabin in Abuja, the deputy head of mission, Embassy of Israel, Mr Nadav Goren said there was already tension over insecurity in the North East, Middle Belt, and the Niger Delta regions and called for peace even as the country approaches the February 2019 general elections.

“As we speak here today, conflicts at varying intensity levels are ongoing in the North East, Middle Belt, and Niger Delta. As we near elections in February, these tensions are prone to show themselves more and more,” Goren said, advising politicians to emulate the late Israeli former Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin who died ‘targeting’ peace.

“I call upon Nigerians to condemn, denounce and isolate violence. Be resilient in opposing any form of violence and proudly promote the democratic discourse throughout the electoral process and thereafter,” Goren added.

The executive secretary, Christian United For Israel (CUFI), a prayer outreach ministry dedicated for praying for the state of Israel, Rev Samson Ozovehe, said Rabin’s ability to make concessions without compromising national and citizens’ security made him secure public trust.

“In nation building, most leaders often falter when faced with the challenge to strike a balance between security and state needs. Only a few passes the quality needed to excel. Rabin was an embodiment of such qualities; a unique fusion of a daring military commander and trailblazing statesman securing peace for his nation and his people with uncompromising persistence,” Ozovehe said.

“My father understood very well that freedom, economic stability, growth, and development stem from internal strengths, unity and purpose,” the son of the late prime minister, Mr. Yuval Rabin said in a statement he sent. “And that they are not mutually exclusive,” Yuval said referring to the ideals of his father which he fought for before his death.

“He fought for Israel’s security and he fought for individual’s welfare understanding one cannot come at the expense of the other. A nation’s strength is the sum of all its individual’s strength, “ Yuval added.

The president, Yitzhak Rabin Centre for African Development, Dr. Nkemjika Ogini called on the Nigerian government to move its Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, saying it is the undisputed capital of Israel.

“We call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to urgently move Nigeria’s Embassy to Jerusalem, the undisputed capital of Israel, this is the wish of the majority of Nigerians,” he said.

Ogini also called on the United Nations (UN) not to ignore Iran’s threat to Israel alleging that Iranian activities in the Middle East is a major destabilizing factor in the region.

“Severe sanctions must be placed on Iran and must not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. The world is silent over Hamas terrorist rockets and fire balloons flying over Israel, no nation can condone the nuisance,” Ogini added.

The late Israeli former Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin was born on March 1, 1922, and died on November 4, 1995.

He was the 5th Prime Minister of Israel who served the country from 1974 -1977 and from 1992 until his assassination in 1995.

While in office, Rabin implemented several bold decisions, including the daring operation to rescue the Israeli hostages at Entebbe.

It was gathered that two major events that took place during Rabin’s second term were the Oslo Accords with the Palestinians and the peace treaty with Jordan.