The Israeli government is to support Uganda in the fight against terrorism, the deputy ambassador of Israel to Africa, Maor Elbaz- Starintsky has said.

Maor, who talked to the Vision Voice Radio Thursday, said Israel had developed some of the best military intelligence systems in the world as a result of its long history of fighting ‘terrorism’. He explained that Israel had warned the rest of the world about terrorism but was ignored for a long time, citing the bombings in New York in September 2001, London in 2002 and Madrid train bombings in 2004.

“Israel has been fighting terrorism since the country was established in 1947. But people thought it was our war and kept it as our problem,” he said.

Maor explained that terrorism had become a global threat and advised Uganda not to consider fighting terrorists on its own, but with the help of the international community.

The envoy said giving the forces a stronger mandate to engage the Alshabab is an effective way of ensuring peacein Somalia.

“Fighting terrorism should be done in a legal way. A developed country cannot lose its identity and values while fighting terrorism,” he said.

Moar noted that although Uganda’s involvement in Somalia had put the country in the spotlight, more people were saved since the region had become a hub for the Alshabab, who have built bases over the last 10 years.