Thank you, Mr. President,

At the outset, I wish to thank you and the President of Togo for presiding over the Security Council today - and to thank the Togo delegation for organizing this important debate.

Seven months ago, the bombing of the UN's Headquarters in Abuja claimed the lives of more than twenty people and shocked the world. It was just one of 115 separate attacks engineered last year by Boko Haram - attacks that killed more than 500 people.

The Secretary-General correctly described the attack on UN Headquarters as an "assault on those who devote themselves to helping others". The explosions in Abuja illuminated the struggle now taking place for Africa's future - between those seek stability and those who seek chaos; between extremism and progress; between hope and hatred.

The alarming rise in terrorism throughout West Africa is connected to a global trend. It is made possible by an increasingly linked network of smuggling rings, transnational criminals, and terrorists.

Terrorists understand that if you can smuggle narcotics into a European capital, you can easily do the same with an anti-aircraft missile. They understand that lawless environments are fertile ground for radicalization. They also recognize that selling drugs can pay for bombs.

Working together - criminals, gangsters and terrorists have declared a war on stability in West Africa. They remain a key obstacle to unlocking this region's vast potential.

The criminal-terrorist networks in West Africa are not only a local problem. They are a global problem. West Africa's battle is our battle. Their enemies are our enemies. And their future is our future.

The State of Israel understands that our destinies are intertwined with the nations of West Africa and the Sahel. Today we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with these nations, as we pursue common opportunities and face common threats.

Israel is particularly concerned about Hezbollah's activity in the region, which has served as a hub for the terrorist organization's operations for more than two decades. Hezbollah uses West Africa as a transit point for funneling money, arms, and drugs to far reaching corners of the globe.  These criminal enterprises strengthen Hezbollah's ability to create sleeper cells in the region - and to garner support from the local population.

The world cannot afford to stand by and give Hezbollah a base of operations in West Africa. These activities are not only a clear and imminent danger to the people of Africa. Hezbollah and their Iranian sponsors pose a threat to innocent people in all corners of the globe - as we saw last week in New Delhi, Bangkok and Tbilisi.

Mr. President,

The security challenges in West Africa call for a two-track approach. The international community must work with African nations to root out terrorism and crime, while we nourish the roots of development and prosperity.

Together, we must strengthen regional cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts, toughen border controls and improve intelligence sharing. We must ensure that terrorist and criminal groups are placed on every terrorism and law enforcement watch list at the national and international levels. We must take greater efforts to prevent the transfer of small arms and all other weapons to criminals and terrorists, including dual-use items.

Israel is prepared to play our part in this effort. Our export control laws and regulations are rigorous and extensive. They ensure that all arms exports meet the standards and criteria set by the Wassenar Arrangement and all other suppliers regimes.

Israel has long worked hand-in-hand with African nations to combat transnational crime and terrorism. We continue to share our knowledge and experience with many African states and regional organizations. These collaborative efforts span a range of issues - from terrorist financing to aviation security; from money laundering to border protection. Israel is proud to be a donor and an active partner in the counter-terrorism efforts here at the United Nations, working closely with bodies such as UNODC, and the international counter-terrorism committees.

Mr. President,

Development must be a part of the long-term strategy to fight crime and terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel. A strong foundation of economic security, good governance and social cohesion denies criminals and terrorists the environments that they need in order to operate.