Controversial Meeting between Israeli and Libyan Foreign Ministers Sparks Criticism from Biden Administration
Last week’s meeting between Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eli Cohen, and Libyan Foreign Minister Najala Almankosh continues to generate widespread media attention and stir up political debates. Senior officials in the Biden administration sharply criticized the decision to publicly disclose the existence of the meeting, raising concerns about its potential consequences. Barak Ravid reported this development in “Walla!”.
Political officials who attended the meeting between Cohen and Almankosh revealed that it was agreed to publicly announce the meeting. However, the decision to do so has drawn significant criticism. “Sorry Najala”: the network is celebrating the storm of the secret meeting with Libya. Moreover, Prime Minister Loeb has dismissed the foreign minister, with her office claiming that she was instructed to meet with Cohen.
According to the report, officials within the Biden administration conveyed a strong message to Minister Cohen, stating that his actions “killed the channel of talks with Libya and made our efforts to promote normalization with other countries much more difficult.”
A senior American official disclosed that the US State Department and the US Embassy in Israel contacted Minister Cohen and other senior officials at the Israeli Foreign Ministry on Sunday evening to express their strong dissatisfaction with the turn of events.
In response, Foreign Minister Cohen and his team claimed to the Americans that they were not responsible for leaking the meeting’s information. They argued that they merely reacted after the media outlets in Israel reported on it. However, the Biden administration doubts Cohen’s version of events. A senior American official pointed out that even if there was a leak, the Israeli Foreign Ministry could have chosen to respond with “No comment” instead of issuing an official statement confirming the meeting and expressing pride in it.
The disclosure of the meeting by Foreign Minister Cohen not only jeopardized efforts to promote normalization but also triggered protests against the Libyan government, which already struggles to maintain control over the entire country.
The fallout from this controversial meeting has increased tensions between Israel and the Biden administration, deepening concerns about the future of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Critics argue that Cohen’s actions have undermined delicate negotiations and will have far-reaching repercussions for Israel’s efforts to establish diplomatic ties with other nations.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Israeli government will address the backlash from both the Biden administration and the wider international community. The repercussions of this meeting are likely to be felt for some time, raising questions about the political judgment and decision-making process within the Israeli Foreign Ministry.