Libyan minister flees country after meeting with Israeli counterpart made public
Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen was criticised by experts and opposition leaders for publicising the meeting, which sparked angry protests in Tripoli.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed ministers in his government to seek approval before engaging in “secret diplomatic meetings,” following a huge diplomatic spat between Israel and Libya.
On Sunday, Israel’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement confirming that Foreign Minister Eli Cohen met with his Libyan counterpart, Najla Mangoush, in Rome last week.
The statement quoted Cohen as calling the meeting “historic” and that they discussed “the importance of preserving the heritage of Libyan Jews, which includes renovating synagogues and Jewish cemeteries in the country. Libya’s size and strategic location offer a huge opportunity for the State of Israel.”
Riots broke out in Tripoli shortly after, with angry Libyans burning Israeli flags and tires on the streets.
The Libyan Foreign Ministry issued a statement downplaying the meeting, saying: “What happened in Rome was an unofficial and unprepared casual meeting, during a meeting with the Italian foreign minister, and it did not include any discussions, agreements or consultations.”
It added that Libya “outright rejects” normalisation with Israel and that Tripoli is fully committed to the “national constants on the issues of the Arab and Islamic nations, foremost of which is the Palestinian cause.”
On Sunday, Mangoush reportedly fled Libya, flying on a private jet to Turkey after fearing for her safety. On Monday, Prime Minister Abdul Hamid al-Dbeibeh fired Mangoush, insisting he wasn’t aware of the meeting.
Mangoush, however, claimed that the meeting had been coordinated at the highest levels, with the knowledge of the prime minister.
In an attempt to cool the situation, Al-Dbeibeh visited the Palestinian embassy on Monday to stress that Libya had no intention of normalising ties with the “Zionist entity.”
Cohen was widely criticised by Israeli opposition leaders and experts for publicising the meeting.
“Countries are looking at the irresponsible leak this morning of the Israeli and Libyan foreign ministers and asking themselves: Is this a country that it’s possible to manage foreign relations with? Is it a country that can be trusted?” Opposition Leader Yair Lapid said.
“This is what happens when Eli Cohen, a man without any background in the field, is appointed foreign minister. The incident with the Libyan foreign minister was amateurish, irresponsible and a grave failure of judgment,” he added.
According to Channel 12, Mossad was also furious with Cohen for publicising the meeting.
Libya has been a strong supporter of the Palestinians for decades, in particular during the years of Muammar Gaddafi’s rule which ended in 2011.
Libya suffered a bloody civil war until 2021 when a unity government was sworn in, led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid al-Dbeibeh.
The National Unity Government only controls parts of Libya, while military general Khalifa Haftar rules areas in the eastern part of the country, including Benghazi.
In 2021, Haftar’s son reportedly visited Israel in a bid to seek military support for his father.
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