Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the central African nation of Chad on Sunday to officially restore relations after nearly 50 years, a move that the Isreli leader said was "historic."

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The visit and official announcement marked a milestone in Netanyahu's recent policy of seeking out new allies among developing countries that have historically sided with the Palestinians at the United Nations and other international forums.

Benjamin Netanyahu and Idriss Deby (Photo: GPO)

visited Jerusalem in November , for talks during which the leaders discussed cooperation in agriculture, counterterrorism, border protection and technology. Netanyahu hailed what he called a "historic and important breakthrough" with the Muslim-majority country that borders Libya and Sudan.

Benjamin Netanyahu and Idriss Deby

"Israel is making inroads into the Islamic world. This is the result of considerable effort in recent years. We are making history and we are turning Israel into a rising global power," Netanyahu said from the capital city of N'Djamena, during the first ever visit by an Israeli prime minister. "We are continuing on, up the mountain, to new heights."





Benjamin Netanyahu and Idriss Deby (Photo: GPO)

Chad broke off relations with Israel in 1972 amid pressure from the Arab world. Most recently, it has played a key role as a partner of the United States and other North African countries in combatting jihadist groups such as Boko Haram in the Sahara.

Benjamin Netanyahu and Idriss Deby (Photo: GPO)

The desert country is one of the world's least developed states, according to the World Bank's Human Development Index, and its government has been accused of widespread human rights abuses and rigged elections. Deby took power in 1990 and has since been re-elected five times.

Benjamin Netanyahu and Idriss Deby (Photo: GPO)

"This is very disturbing and even causes outrage in Iran and among the Palestinians who are trying to prevent this. They will not succeed," he said.