WASHINGTON – The international development agencies in Israel and America signed
a memorandum of understanding Wednesday to increase cooperation on food aid to
Africa.
The MOU between USAID and Mashav (the Israel Agency for
International Development Cooperation in the Foreign Ministry) was the first of
its kind, according to Mashav head Daniel Carmon, though he stressed that “this
MOU is not the start of the relationship; it’s the continuing and the
strengthening of the relationship.”
Though the US and Israel have both
long provided development assistance in Africa, the MOU allows for closer
cooperation on the issue of food security in four countries: Uganda, Ethiopia,
Tanzania and Rwanda. The assistance will include help with food production and
crop cycles, as well as addressing environmental issues that go beyond the
agricultural sector, Carmon said.
It also ties Israel more tightly into
the issue of fighting for food security and other major issues on the global
development agenda.
Carmon noted that development – alongside diplomacy
and security – was one of the pillars of Israel’s foreign policy and said that
increasing cooperation with USAID was not only “the right thing to do but the
smart thing to do.”
He added that having an project emblazoned with both
American and Israel flags sends an important signal beyond both countries’
shores.
“It’s a very strong message between ourselves, and a very strong
message to the developing world,” he said.
Carmon came to Washington to a
attended the MOU signing ceremony Wednesday. The event was closed to the press
soon before the ceremony began after press had initially been invited.
A
member of the USAID press office said the decision to shut out press was due to
a last-minute USAID staffing issue and attributed the change to “poor planning.”
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