(Communicated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

A delegation of representatives of religious orders in Senegal visited Israel from November 3-7, 2013. The historic visit was of great significance and will help to strengthen and deepen the ties between Israel and Senegal. The religious orders in Senegal exert influence not only on the religious sphere but also politically and socially. Moreover, their influence extends beyond the borders of Senegal to other African countries, such as Mali, Chad, and Niger.

The delegation representated Islam's Sufi order which preaches brotherhood, coexistence, and tolerance. The guests noted that these qualities have a common denominator with Judaism and stand in contrast with another form of Islam, that of radical Islamism, which is widespread in our area.

During the visit, the delegation met with leading public figures, such as the Mayor of Jerusalem, and with senior officials of the Foreign Ministry. They visited holy sites, with an emphasis on shrines holy to Islam, and were impressed by Israeli-Arab coexistence. They visited the Beit HaGefen Arab Jewish Cultural Center in Haifa as well as the Shefayim Center of MASHAV, Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation, in order to see the potential for cooperation between Israel and Senegal in agriculture, including irrigation and drip irrigation.

The guests were deeply impressed by the brotherhood and tolerance displayed among the believers of the three monotheistic faiths at the holy sites in Jerusalem. Stressing the gap that exists between Israel's image as reflected in the media in their country, and the actual reality, they offered to serve as goodwill ambassadors of Israel and to present Israel as it actually is.