Quds city, March 25, SPA -- Israel will establish diplomatic relations with Chad, a Muslim country in Africa, Israel Radio reported. The radio reported Thursday that the two countries had considered establishing ties for some time, but the step is being taken now to accompany a significant downturn in Palestinian-Israeli violence. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon declared an end to four years of bloodshed at a summit on Feb. 8. Since the summit, Egypt and Jordan, the only Arab states to sign peace treaties with Israel, sent new ambassadors to Israel after an absence of four years because of the conflict. Israel Radio reported that Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom might make a trip to Chad soon. The Haaretz daily reported Friday that Shalom was scheduled to meet Chad's president, Idriss Deby, earlier this week but Deby canceled. It said the two men were expected to meet in several weeks, and that Chad has also proposed sending a delegation to Israel. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev declined comment on the reports.
