President Herzog visits Zambia, meets President Hichilema

President Isaac Herzog was warmly received today, Monday, at the Presidential Palace in Lusaka by President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia.

The two Presidents first held a diplomatic meeting, followed by an expanded bilateral session attended by both delegations. At the conclusion of the meeting, President Hichilema hosted President Herzog for a tour of the Presidential Gardens, after which President Herzog signed the guest book of the Presidential Palace.

President Isaac Herzog said: “This is a great honor for us to be here, and a great personal honor for me, as President of the State of Israel, to deliver a message on behalf of all Israelis. We love Africa, we love Zambia, and we are proud to be here. We bring with us the message that Israel wishes to share with Africa: a message of innovation and partnership in facing shared challenges, from food security and climate change to water, science, and technology.

“We will never forget your impressive visit to Israel more than two years ago, and we are delighted to be hosted here today, with the goal of further strengthening our relations.

“I am deeply impressed by Zambia’s progress, particularly under your leadership, Mr. President, steering the country in the right direction after years of economic challenge. This progress enables investors and the business community to take part. Many Israeli entrepreneurs, companies, and NGOs are eager to come to Zambia — a large nation with a mission of doing good, promoting progress, and advancing its people.

“We are always happy to welcome Zambian students who come to study in Israel and return home to contribute to their communities. We look forward to continued cooperation across many fields — that is precisely the purpose of this visit.

Without a doubt, my presence here as President of Israel at this time is also a message of gratitude and friendship for your warm attitude toward the people of Israel — the people of the Bible.”

In relation to the situation in the region, President Herzog stressed: “We want peace. We seek peace. There is nothing we want more than peace with our Palestinian neighbors. Sadly, we went through a terrible period during the terrorist attack of October 7, two years ago — an atrocity that claimed the lives of citizens from many nations, including from African countries. Only last week, we brought home the body of a hostage from Tanzania, whose remains were found in Gaza. He was a student who came to Israel to study and work in agriculture, and who tragically lost his life. We are determined to bring all our hostages home. We are grateful to President Donald Trump for his leadership and for mediating this unique opportunity for peace. We wish to continue moving forward toward dialogue and stability, but first, we must ensure that every one of our hostages is returned for a dignified burial in Israel.”

President Hakainde Hichilema said: “Mr. President, our dear friend, we are very pleased to host you here on this state visit. I remember my visit to Israel in 2023, and this moment is especially meaningful — marking the return of the Israeli Embassy to Zambia. Our country is rich in opportunities and natural resources, and we want to share them with the State of Israel — through investments and cooperation in key sectors such as energy, agriculture, precision irrigation, and technology. To the people of Israel — you are most welcome in Zambia. We have some of