Libyan minister fired and on the run after secretly meeting Israeli counterpart

In a startling turn of events, as of yesterday, Libya’s foreign minister, Najla El Mangoush, has been relieved of her duties after leaks revealed an unprecedented meeting with Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Eli Cohen on Italian soil last week. [1]

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Uniting Arab states against the Palestinians Libyan denials are hard to believe Israel cannot be trusted, says former Israeli leader Palestinian oppression the only constant in region of anomalies Also read

The situation has ignited fervent demands for transparency from the Libyan government, particularly regarding how El Mangoush managed to exit the country, despite being on a list of individuals prohibited from leaving, pending an ongoing investigation. [1]

This disastrous example of how not to engage in diplomacy started when Cohen took the initiative to make the meeting publicly known.

He had emphasised the potential benefits of bilateral relations between the two countries, with the state painting this encounter as a preliminary step towards normalisation.

In a statement issued by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Cohen said,

“I spoke with the [Libyan] Foreign Minister about the great potential for the two countries from their relations.” [1]

Uniting Arab states against the Palestinians

The face-to-face rendezvous between El Mangoush and Cohen carries immense significance as it was the first-ever publicly disclosed meeting between Libyan and Israeli foreign ministers.

The historic engagement was devoid of official ties between the two nations, triggering vehement protests in cities across Libya, notably Tripoli.

Demonstrators brandished Palestinian flags and disrupted traffic, expressing their outrage.

The development falls in line with Israel’s recent US-brokered diplomatic outreach with the Arab world, which began in 2020 with the normalisation of relations with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. [2] [3]

However, as Tel Aviv establishes diplomatic ties with members of the Arab world, it is simultaneously increasing its oppression of the Palestinian people.

Libyan denials are hard to believe

In the wake of Cohen’s announcement and the ensuing public backlash, Abdul Hamid al-Dbeibah, the head of Libya’s Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU), swiftly suspended El Mangoush and referred her to an investigative process.

The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation has also issued statements clarifying that El Mangoush rejected a formal meeting with Israeli representatives and that the event was apparently a chance occurrence.

Furthermore, they emphasised their stance on rejecting the notion of diplomatic connections with Israel.

As per a press release from the government department,

“The Ministry categorically denies the reported exploitation by the international press and their attempt to give the incident the character of meetings, talks, or even just thinking about holding such meetings.

“In accordance with all of the above, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs renews its complete and absolute rejection of normalisation with the Zionist entity, and affirms once again that its position is firm towards the Palestinian cause and the brotherly Palestinian people.” [4]

The Libyan government’s Internal Security Agency (ISA) also denied assertions that it had facilitated the travel arrangements of El Mangoush, following her suspension. The agency, too, reaffirmed the state’s support and standing for the Palestinian cause.

The ISA said in remarks,

“The Internal Security Agency denies what is being circulated on social media regarding allowing or facilitating the travel of the suspended Minister of Foreign Affairs who did not pass through the official channels at the Mitiga airport outlet, whether the regular, private, or presidential terminal, according to the customary context, and the surveillance cameras will clarify this.

“The Presidency and members of the Internal Security Agency confirm their standing together with the aspirations of the Libyan people and respecting their feelings, which we share with them, towards all issues, especially the Palestinian cause.” [5]

These contradictory accounts align more with the version given by two Libyan officials to the Associated Press.

One official confirmed that the meeting was officially co-ordinated a month prior, during al-Dbeibah’s visit to Italy when he met Giorgia Meloni. [6]

Upon her return to Libya, El Mangoush briefed the Libyan Prime Minister about her meeting with Cohen, according to another Libyan official. [6]

Israel cannot be trusted, says former Israeli leader

In Israel, Cohen’s public announcement of the secret meeting has been met with criticism, with some calling it a scandal that may set back the state’s diplomatic efforts with other nations.

Yair Lapid, an opposition politician, chief of the Yesh Atid party, and former Prime Minister, went as far as to say that Cohen had seriously damaged Israel’s international credibility.

“Countries of the world are looking at the irresponsible leak of the Israel-Libya foreign ministers’ meeting, and asking themselves: ‘Is this a country with which we can conduct foreign relations? Is this a country you can trust?’

“This is what happens when you appoint Eli Cohen, a person with no background in the field, as foreign minister for only one year.” [7]

1/3 מדינות העולם מסתכלות הבוקר על ההדלפה חסרת האחריות של פגישת שרי החוץ ישראל – לוב, ושואלות את עצמן: זו מדינה שאפשר לנהל איתה יחסי חוץ? זו מדינה שאפשר לסמוך עליה?

זה מה שקורה כשממנים את אלי כהן, אדם בלי שום רקע בתחום, לשר חוץ רק לשנה >> pic.twitter.com/fArQxU0MQ4
— יאיר לפיד – Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) August 28, 2023

In addition, Barak Ravid, a political commentator on foreign policy, denounced the secretive meeting between Cohen and El Mangoush as a “diplomatic farce”.

He laid blame on El Mangoush’s suspension and subsequent flight from Libya on Cohen and his decision to make public the ill-fated meeting. [8]

A diplomatic farce in Israel today:
Israel foreign minister Eli Cohen held a secret meeting with his Libyan counterpart in Rome last week. Today, he decided to make the meeting public. The Result: The Libyan foreign minister was fired, and an investigation was opened against her
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) August 27, 2023

America, Tel Aviv’s overlord and historic backer, also criticised Cohen’s decision to leak the meeting with his Libyan counterpart, arguing that the publication of the secretive endeavour will harm efforts in establishing diplomatic ties with the Arab world.

An unnamed official told Axios,

“The Biden administration is concerned that the exposure of the meeting and the unrest that followed will not only kill efforts to normalise relations between Israel and Libya, but will also harm efforts that are underway with other Arab countries.” [9]

Palestinian oppression the only constant in region of anomalies

Regardless of Libyan denials of and Israel’s backlash against the ministerial meeting, as well as the US criticisms against the disclosure, the oppression and occupation of Palestinians and their land continues unabated.

Israeli occupation troops, under the command of the colonial state’s most rightwing and fascist government, have increased their persecution against the Palestinian people.

In recent years, the occupation has put forth proposals for the construction of new settler colonies in the occupied West Bank — deemed illegal under international law — while simultaneously forcefully evicting Palestinian families and demolishing their homes on bogus claims of terrorism.

The Israeli military has increasingly conducted military raids on the occupied West Bank that indiscriminately target Palestinian civilians, resulting in the deaths of many innocent men, women, and children.

More than 200 Palestinians have been killed this year, the highest death toll since 2005. [10]

Illegal Zionist settlers have increasingly launched horrific pogroms on Palestinian towns and villages. In this year alone, three Palestinian villages and towns were attacked by illegal settlers who burned down Palestinian homes, businesses, and transportation. Shockingly, in all instances, the occupying soldiers stood by while attacks took place, stepping in to protect the violent settler mobs.

Arab and Muslim states considering the establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel should be reminded that such a move legitimises the occupation of oppression of the Palestinian people by Israeli forces, and that the cost of establishing ties with Israel would be more Palestinian bloodshed.