As part of his visit in Israel, the president of the Republic of Chard visited KKL-JNF's Nations Grove in Jerusalem, and with representatives of KKL-JNF's management, planted a tree in Israeli soil, a few days before the holiday of Tu BiShvat.
Ben Burgle – Israeli Ambassador to Chad, David Ya'ari – member of the KKL-JNF board, Ronnie Vinikov - KK-JNF's Head of the Resource Development and External Affairs, Karin Bolton – Manager of KKL-JNF's International Relations Department and The President of Chad, General Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno. Photograph: Rafi Ben-Hakun, KKL-JNF Photo Archive
Israel and Chand have renewed their diplomatic relationship in 2019, and this is the first visit of the president in Israel. In February 2022, KKL-JNF and a delegation from Chad signed a memorandum, which declares both sides' intention of collaborating on issues of forestry and the fight against the climate crisis. This lead to a fruitful collaboration on agriculture, which included information exchange and learning advanced agricultural technologies.
The president of the Republic of Chad, Genral Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, said after the plating event "we are in Israel as friends and brothers, and are grateful for maintaining the diplomatic relations with Israel. In 2019, it was decided that the diplomatic relations will be renewed, and I am here today to make the dream come true and the relations even stronger."
David Ya'ari, a member of the KKL-JNF Board, said "There is great importance in KKL-JNF's promoting Israel's forestry and agricultural abilities throughout the world, and Israel's relations with the rest of the world, with an emphasis on the countries in Africa, all a part of the Zionist vision and its promotion in the 21st century. We are happy and grateful for the collaboration with the Republic of Chad." .
Photograph: Rafi Ben-Hakun, KKL-JNF Photo Archive