Libya’s Foreign Minister, Najla al-Mangoush, has been temporarily suspended by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah after revelations of an informal meeting with her Israeli counterpart in Rome.
The meeting, which occurred without diplomatic recognition between the two countries, has ignited protests across several Libyan cities. Demonstrators in Tripoli and other regions brandished Palestinian flags, blocked roads, and expressed their opposition to any form of normalization with Israel.
Prime Minister Dbeibah announced the suspension on Sunday evening, emphasizing that an administrative investigation would be conducted by a commission led by the justice minister to address the matter. The decision comes amid concerns about the impact of the controversy on Libya’s internal stability.
While the Libyan Foreign Ministry characterized the encounter as an unintended and informal event, the Israeli Foreign Ministry hailed it as a historic diplomatic milestone. Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen described the meeting as the “first step” towards establishing relations between the two nations.
Discussions reportedly touched upon a range of topics, including the potential for collaboration in areas such as cultural heritage preservation, synagogue renovation, agriculture, and water management.
The reactions to the meeting have highlighted the ongoing complexities surrounding Israel’s relations with its Arab neighbors. Although Israel has established diplomatic ties with some Arab countries through US-brokered agreements, this incident underscores the deep-seated sentiments and passionate commitment to the Palestinian cause that remain prevalent in parts of the Arab world.
The Libyan Presidential Council, a body partially endowed with executive powers, has voiced its concern over the incident, stressing that it contradicts Libyan foreign policy and core national values. Libya has a historical Jewish heritage, but decades of rule under Muammar Gaddafi led to the expulsion of Jewish communities and the destruction of synagogues.
As the fallout from this meeting continues to unfold, both regional and international observers are closely monitoring the implications for Libya’s internal stability and its foreign relations, as well as the broader dynamics within the Arab-Israeli context.
