Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar today (10 June 2025) met with the Foreign Minister of Zambia Mulambo Haimbe. Following is FM Sa’ar’s statement alongside FM Mulambo Haimbe.
FM Sa’ar: “We were informed about the UK decision to include two of our Ministers on the British Sanctions list. It is outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kind of measures. I discussed it earlier today with PM Netanyahu and we will hold a special government meeting early next week to decide on our response to this unacceptable decision.”
Full Remarks:
“It is my honor to welcome Zambia’s Foreign Minister Mulambo Haimbe to Jerusalem, our eternal capital.
I’d like to begin with condolences on behalf of the people and government of Israel – for the passing of former President Edgar Lungu a few days ago.
President Lungu opened Zambia’s embassy in Israel.
Our thoughts are with the people of Zambia and the President’s family.
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Minister, this is your first visit to Israel.
I believe it symbolizes a new stage in relations between our nations and I’m happy that you were able to see some Biblical sites in Jerusalem and Samaraia.
These relations go back to Zambia’s independence in 1964.
Zambia’s first President, Kenneth Kaunda, formed relations with Israel and was a true friend.
That spirit of friendship continues today under President Hichilema.
I commend Zambia for its moral stance alongside Israel in the ICJ: opposing the political procedure against Israel there.
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Minister, in the past we had an embassy in Zambia. It was closed a long time ago.
That was a mistake. Now I’m fixing it.
It is my honor and privilege to open a new Israeli embassy in Lusaka, Zambia’s capital.
I intend to come to Zambia and inaugurate the embassy in August.
This important step will bring our nations closer.
On Sunday, the Israeli government approved my proposal to appoint Ofra Farhi as our resident Ambassador to Zambia.
Anbassador Farhi served as our non-resident Ambassador to your country in recent years.
She has a strong knowledge of our relations and I’m convinced that she will succeed in her position.
In our meeting we discussed expanding partnerships [including in agriculture, food security, health, water management and more].
We discussed the trauma unit Israel is establishing in a hospital in Livingston.
This will directly contribute to the local health system.
Israel is proud to help its friends.
Relations between our countries are not only based on common interests.
They are rooted in shared values.
These are relations between two nations of believers:
Believers in ancient traditions based on our Bible.
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Deepening relations with Zambia is part of our strategy for 2025 – to strengthen Israel’s engagement with the African continent.
In the past, relations between Israel and Africa flourished.
Unfortunately, they decreased with the years.
We are now changing direction.
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Israel is committed to bringing home all of its hostages. We discussed it in our meeting.
Israel has demonstrated that commitment once again in the past week.
In two special operations – Israeli forces returned the bodies of two Israeli hostages, Judy Weinstein and Gadi Hagai, and a Thai hostage Nattapong Pinta.
In a few minutes we will hold a ceremony at Ben Gurion Airport to mark the return of his body to Thailand.
Israel is serious in its will to secure a hostage deal.
There has recently been certain progress. In light of past experience, I don’t want to overstate it at this point.
But we are interested in reaching a deal, which will include a ceasefire.
We are committed to bringing all of our hostages home, alive and dead.
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This morning, Israeli forces attacked terror targets of the Houthis in the Hudaydah Port.
The Houthis threaten the stability of the Middle East, Africa and international shipping lanes.
They use the civil port for the purposes of terror.
They have attacked Israel since October 7th, unprovoked, even though we share no border.
They continue to fire missiles and drones at our communities.
Israel will continue to fight terror – in all forms and on all fronts.
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On early Monday morning, the “Selfie Yacht”, a PR stunt, was safely brought to the shores of Israel by the IDF.
Greta, persona-non-greta, received food and good treatment.
Israel acted in a peaceful manner.
I want to be clear: These personae-non-greta will not be allowed to stay in Israel.
Greta departed Israel for Sweden earlier today. Another person departed and two others will leave later today.
Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan has so far refused to sign deportation documents – as have 7 others.
According to Israeli law: they should be brought before a judicial authority to authorize their deportation.
Greta and her friends brought in a tiny amount of aid on their “celebrity yacht”. They did not help the people of Gaza.
This was nothing but a ridiculous gimmick. A publicity stunt and nothing more.
In any case – it is our intention to deliver to Gaza the tiny amount of aid on the yacht that they did not consume.
But over 1,200 aid trucks entered Gaza from Israel within the last two weeks.
Over 11 million meals were directly delivered to the civilians of Gaza by the GHF, on top of it.
Finally, we were informed about the UK decision to include two of our Ministers on the British Sanctions list.
It is outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kind of measures.
I discussed it earlier today with PM Netanyahu and we will hold a special government meeting early next week to decide on our response to this unacceptable decision.”
