Israel turns dubiously to Africa

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been busy pursuing one aspect of the Obama Administration's agenda - carrying to Africa the U.S. message of accountability. With a rather different agenda, Israel's foreign minister Avigdor Liberman also has Africa in his sights. Whereas the U.S. is pressing a moral message hard - more democracy and less corruption, the Israeli approach is entirely pragmatic. It's not the first time Israel has been heavily involved in Africa. Nearly half a century ago, there was unexpected interaction between sub- Saharan Africa, just emerging from the dark years of colonial rule, and Israel - which had come into existence a decade-and-a-half earlier after ridding itself of a British presence - busily engaged in reaching out to other emerging nations. Ever since, it's been a relationship of ups and downs.