Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta in Nairobi in July 2016. Photo: Kobi Gideon/GPO.

“We believe in Africa. We believe in Kenya. We believe in our friendship,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday in a keynote speech to dignitaries and African leaders during his latest visit to Kenya.

“This is something that we translate into actual projects,” Netanyahu stated of the renewed friendship between Israel and Africa. Local publication The Daily Nation reported that these projects will include agriculture, water technology, and anti-terrorism aid.

“I want you to know that Israel is your partner in achieving those goals here in Kenya and everywhere in Africa,” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu also pledged that Israel would be deeply involved in the new Power Africa initiative, which seeks to bring electricity to millions of African citizens using clean energy sources.

The prime minister also pledged to help fight the brutal Islamic terrorism that has plagued the continent in recent years.

“This is a threat to all of us and I believe that we can cooperate with other countries, between us and with others and if we work together we will defeat the barbarians. Our people deserve better, we can provide it for them,” Netanyahu said.

Relating his visit to a larger vision of Israel-Africa relations, Netanyahu expressed hope that Israel will gain observer status in the African Union.

“We love Africa and I would like very much not only to cooperate on the individual basis with each of your countries, with Kenya and with each of your countries but also with the African Union,” he stated.

The visit to Kenya is one in a series of African visits undertaken by Netanyahu as part of a diplomatic push to expand Israel’s diplomatic and military relations with Asia and Africa.