Israel's Netanyahu visits Muslim-majority Chad, expected to renew ties

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu visited Chad on Sunday for what he called a "historic" trip, during which diplomatic ties with the African state were expected to be renewed.

"I am now leaving on another historic and important breakthrough, to Chad, a huge Muslim country bordering Libya and Sudan," he told reporters before boarding the plane at the Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv.

"There will be big news," Netanyahu said, hinting at the formal resumption of diplomatic relations between the countries that Chad had cut in 1972.

His office later confirmed he had landed and was meeting with Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno in N'Djamena.

Netanyahu has sought to improve ties with countries in the Arab and Muslim world and said he expected more such diplomatic breakthroughs soon.

Netanyahu made a surprise visit to Oman in October that was followed by high-profile tour by Israeli ministers to the UAE and Oman.

Palestinians have strongly condemned the growing ties between Tel Aviv and Arab and Muslim states.

"There will be more countries," said Netanyahu, who is seeking re-election in April 9 polls while also facing the possibility of being indicted in corruption investigations in the coming weeks.

The one-day visit follows Deby's November trip to Israel.

Chadian security sources say the country has acquired Israeli equipment to help battle rebels in the country's north.

Chad is also one of several African states engaged in Western-backed operations against Boko Haram and Islamic State group jihadists.

Israel currently has full diplomatic relations with only two Arab states - Egypt and Jordan.

Gulf states have held clandestine talks with Israel for decades, going back to at least the early 1980s.