Madagascar has a small Jewish population, but has never been home to a significant Jewish presence.
After France colonized the island and Europeans began settling there in the 19th century, a small number of Jewish families settled in Madagascar, but did not establish a Jewish community.
In the summer of 1940, the Madagascar Plan was proposed by the Nazis, under which 4 million European Jews would be forcibly relocated there. The plan ultimately became unfeasible, and was scrapped.
When Madagascar gained independence as the Malagasy Republic in 1960, Israel was one of the first countries to recognize its independence and send an ambassador. Relations between both countries are close and friendly.
The country continues to be home to a tiny Jewish population, and there is a small trickle of aliyah to Israel from Madagascar.