solidarity in fighting terrorism was the key focus of discussion at the meeting on Monday between visiting Ivorian Foreign Minister Dr. Abdallah Toikeusse Mabri and President Reuven Rivlin at the President’s Residence.
The two were not strangers to each other, having met in their previous capacities of health minister and Knesset speaker. In reminding his guest of that meeting, Rivlin quipped that there was a possibility that Israel’s current Health Minister Yaakov Litzman might one day be appointed foreign minister.
Bringing greetings from President Alassane Quattara, who had instructed him to convey a message of fraternity and continued bilateral cooperation, Toikeusse Mabri said that he was primarily in Israel to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the renewal of diplomatic relations which were severed in the immediate aftermath of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. The Ivory Coast was the last of the African states to break diplomatic ties with Israel..
In December, 1985, Shimon Peres who was then prime minister met in Geneva with Ivorian President Felix Houphouet Boign.
Following the meeting the two leaders announced the restoration of diplomatic relations, the formal approval for which was still required from their respective governments, but both were sure that this was a mere formality, and their confidence in this respect was not misplaced.
The Ivory Coast was subsequently instrumental in helping Israel to restore ties with other African countries.