馃嚚馃嚠C么te d'IvoireWest Africa
Sharren Haskel advocates for stability, equality, and freedom amid regional tensions in Israel
via Abidjan.net9 min read
Sharren Haskel, Israeli Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, discussed Israel's security situation and cooperation in the Middle East with a delegation of French-speaking African journalists during their visit to Israel from June 21 to 25, 2026. Haskel referenced the October 7, 2023, attack, describing it as a "massacre of more than 1,000 people in 6 hours," which she stated remains a significant wound for the Israeli people. She also noted that Hezbollah continues to attack Israel despite a ceasefire, emphasizing that Israel cannot remain inactive and its priority is "the protection of Israel." The Vice-Minister accused Iran of regional destabilization, stating, "Iran finances Boko Haram and terrorists everywhere in Africa," and urged countries concerned about their security to closely monitor negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Despite Israel's intelligence capabilities, which she called the "best intelligence service in the world," Haskel acknowledged that the country was surprised by attacks from multiple fronts, including Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. She characterized the current conflict as a "war against radical Muslims" and reiterated Israel's objective for the region: "We are for stability, equality and freedom." Haskel concluded by highlighting the historical struggle for sovereignty, stating, "We have been fighting for our sovereignty for 1000 years."
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Colonel Olivier Rafowicz, spokesperson for the Israeli Armed Forces, stated that the October 7, 2023, attack was an intelligence failure, highlighting a lapse in detecting warning signs. Speaking to francophone African journalists, he emphasized that Israel's greatest risk is losing vigilance. Rafowicz also addressed ongoing confrontations with Hezbollah, noting attacks involving hundreds of drones from Hezbollah and Iran, and the discovery of 90-meter-deep tunnels used for military operations and to infiltrate trained combatants into Israel. He asserted that Hezbollah's determination to destroy Israel persists, viewing ceasefires as temporary. The colonel described the conflict as a "war of religion," not against Israelis but against Jews, and expressed Israel's desire for peace with Lebanon if Hezbollah were to disappear. The October 7 attack resulted in 1,200 deaths, over 1,000 military personnel, and 251 kidnapped individuals. Rafowicz also warned against military stagnation and noted that the current conflict is against non-state actors, citing instances of individuals leading civilian lives by day and engaging in armed actions by night, including hospital directors and journalists.
Stakeholders in the cashew sector convened in Abidjan-Plateau on June 24, 2026, for a workshop on carbon finance opportunities. Organized by the Cotton Cashew Shea Council with World Bank support, the event presented findings from a study on the sector's carbon valuation potential and initiated discussions on a project to produce and utilize biochar from cashew shells. The initiative aims to establish the carbon market as a new sustainable financing mechanism for the sector, enhancing its resilience to climate change. Bert茅 Mamadou, Director General of the Cotton Cashew Shea Council, highlighted the sector's growth, with raw cashew nut production exceeding 1.5 million tons in 2025, 43% of which was locally processed. Despite this, challenges remain in preserving production potential, protecting natural resources, and securing producer incomes. The Council plans to focus on agroforestry and valuing carbon sequestered by cashew orchards to address these issues and open new financing avenues. Strategic axes include valuing carbon stored in orchards, developing renewable energies, sustainable waste management, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and restoring degraded soils. Melanie Ahoba, World Bank representative, noted that the workshop is a crucial step in identifying new value creation opportunities, building on the Cashew Value Chain Competitiveness Promotion Project PPCA. She emphasized the sector's untapped environmental potential, where cashew plantations, byproduc
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