Title: Libya dismisses Foreign Minister after meeting with Israeli counterpart causes uproar
Date: [Current Date]
Abu Dhabi and Jerusalem, CNN – Libya’s internationally recognized government has dismissed Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush following a meeting she held with her Israeli counterpart that sparked controversy within the country.
The meeting between Mangoush and Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen took place in Rome last week, as announced by Israel’s foreign ministry on Sunday night. However, the Libyan foreign ministry rejected reports that the meeting was officially sanctioned, stating that it was “informal,” “unprepared,” and “did not include negotiations or consultations.”
The Libyan government emphasized that Mangoush “reaffirmed Libya’s principles towards the Palestinian cause in a clear and unambiguous manner.” Libya does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, and the normalization of ties remains a contentious issue in the country.
Videos circulating on social media over the weekend showed Libyan protesters burning Israeli flags and attempting to enter the gates of a government building in Tripoli in response to the meeting.
Contradicting the Libyan account, an anonymous Israeli source familiar with the situation claimed that the meeting was planned and the news was intended to be made public at some point. The source revealed that discussions had taken place before the ministers’ meeting regarding the timing of its announcement.
The Israeli foreign ministry published its statement on Sunday in response to inquiries from an Israeli journalist who had learned about the meeting. The source stated that Israel had informed Mangoush about the publication of the meeting’s occurrence.
Foreign Minister Cohen referred to the meeting as “historic” and described it as “the first step in the connections between Israel and Libya.” He highlighted the potential for bilateral relations between the two countries and emphasized the importance of preserving the heritage of Libyan Jewry, including the renovation of synagogues and Jewish cemeteries.
Libya has been embroiled in chaos since the NATO-backed uprising that toppled former ruler Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. The country is currently divided between two rival governments, one in Tripoli and one in Benghazi, since 2014.
The parliament supporting the eastern-based government denounced Mangoush’s meeting with Cohen and called for a “harsh punishment.” It is worth noting that Mangoush was Libya’s first female foreign minister.
The incident has reignited debates on the normalization of relations with Israel in Libya and highlights the challenges of achieving consensus within the divided nation.