Relationship dossier
Israel
Senegal
Relationship assessment
Development cooperation and restored diplomatic ties coexist with recurring friction over Palestinian issues.
Israel toward Senegal
+5Israel has engaged in development cooperation with Senegal. After Senegal supported UN Security Council Resolution 2334 in 2016, Israel recalled its ambassador and suspended aid programs, illustrating substantial political friction.
Senegal toward Israel
-15Senegal restored diplomatic relations with Israel in 1994, but has strongly supported Palestinian positions. In 2016, Senegal supported UN Security Council Resolution 2334, prompting a sharp Israeli response.
Overall relationship
-5The relationship combines restored diplomatic ties and development cooperation with a recurring political divide over Palestinian issues. Senegal’s support for Resolution 2334 in 2016 triggered Israeli diplomatic and aid measures, making the relationship mixed with a modestly negative overall character.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Israel and Senegal restored diplomatic relations in 1994 and have had development cooperation. Relations have also been affected by Senegal’s support for Palestinian positions: after Senegal supported UN Security Council Resolution 2334 in 2016, Israel recalled its ambassador and suspended aid programs. The relationship therefore includes practical cooperation as well as significant political friction.
Areas of tension
- Senegal’s support for Palestinian positions, including its support for UN Security Council Resolution 2334 in 2016.
Key developments
Israel and Senegal restored diplomatic relations.
Senegal supported UN Security Council Resolution 2334; Israel recalled its ambassador and suspended aid programs.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and continuity of bilateral development cooperation are unclear.
- The extent to which relations and cooperation recovered after the 2016 dispute is unclear.