In the early morning of Nov. 28, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left for a short visit of a few hours to Kenya. He returned to Israel that same night.
There was nothing urgent or important to this visit. The prime minister of Israel was the sole Western leader who attended Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta's swearing-in ceremony in Nairobi. But for Netanyahu this trip was another opportunity to distance himself from the travails of the criminal investigations into his dealings, and to show the Israeli public more official photos from visits to distant lands, where he is received with royal honors. Netanyahu aims to create a sense among the public that while in his own country he is persecuted by the police and the left, around the world he is treated with prestige and respect.