RELATED:Israel asks French to help secure Ivory Coast staffHeavy fighting shakes Gbagbo grip on Ivory CoastThe embassy is located in an area of embassies and government offices that was the scene of intense fighting last week between forces loyal to the incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo, who refuses to give up power, and those of Alassane Ouattara, who beat Gbagbo in an election in November.Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman spoke last week to French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe and asked to allow the diplomats, including ambassador Daniel Sa’ada, and other Israelis in the city, to take shelter at a secure French base there.Some 18 Israelis – making up seven families – are still believed to be in Abidjan.The French embassy in Tel Aviv issued a statement Saturday welcoming the evacuation of the Israeli diplomats.
Israeli diplomats evacuated from the Ivory Coast
The embassy, located in a neighborhood that was the scene of intense fighting, was hit by gunfire last week, but no one was injured.
RELATED:Israel asks French to help secure Ivory Coast staffHeavy fighting shakes Gbagbo grip on Ivory CoastThe embassy is located in an area of embassies and government offices that was the scene of intense fighting last week between forces loyal to the incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo, who refuses to give up power, and those of Alassane Ouattara, who beat Gbagbo in an election in November.Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman spoke last week to French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe and asked to allow the diplomats, including ambassador Daniel Sa’ada, and other Israelis in the city, to take shelter at a secure French base there.Some 18 Israelis – making up seven families – are still believed to be in Abidjan.The French embassy in Tel Aviv issued a statement Saturday welcoming the evacuation of the Israeli diplomats.