Early summer in Israel’s northern Western Negev announces itself through watermelon fields. Bringing an African delegation to the Western Negev was, in that sense, a return to Israel’s diplomatic roots. A presidential visit to the Western Negev – eagerly anticipated by both sides, and awaiting official confirmation – is already taking shape on the horizon. The Western Negev has been doing exactly that for generations – and if all goes as both sides intend, the president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo will soon see it for himself. The writer is the director of Innovation Diplomacy and Strategic Partnerships for Hamitba – The Western Negev Innovation Authority.