JERUSALEM, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Israel announced on Tuesday that it will renew diplomatic ties with Chad after Chadian President Idriss Deby's surprise visit here.

As Deby concluded the two-day visit, Israel's foreign ministry said in a statement that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will "soon" fly to Chad, where he and Deby "will announce the resumption of diplomatic relations."

No specific date was given so far, according to the statement.

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in another statement that Netanyahu and Deby held a meeting on Tuesday morning at the office in Jerusalem.

"The leaders discussed common threats and the fight against terrorism," the statement read, adding "they also discussed increasing bilateral cooperation in agriculture, counter-terrorism, border defense, technology, solar energy, water, and health."

Chad, a Muslim-majority country in central Africa, and Israel severed their diplomatic relations in 1972.

Most Muslim or Arab countries do not have formal ties with Israel.

Netanyahu praised the warming ties with Chad as an example of how Israel can form relations in Africa and the Middle East regardless of the continuing conflicts with the Palestinians. Enditem

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