OCCUPIED-AL-QUDS: The foreign ministers of Israel and Libya met last week, Israel´s foreign ministry said on Sunday of what is reported to be the first such diplomatic initiative between the two countries. The unprecedented talks between Eli Cohen and his Libyan counterpart in the Tripoli-based administration, Najla al-Mangoush, took place at a meeting in Rome hosted by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. “I spoke with the foreign minister about the great potential for the two countries from their relations,” Cohen said in a statement from the foreign ministry. There was no immediate confirmation of the meeting either from Rome or from the authorities of the internationally recognised Libyan government. Like several other North African countries, Libya has a rich Jewish heritage.

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Tripoli [Libya], August 28 (ANI): Libya's prime minister Sunday night suspended Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush from her role after her recent meeting with Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen sparked anger in the country, The Times of Israel reported. Shortly after Israel released a press release announcing and applauding the sit-down, the nation's Foreign Ministry also quickly released a statement denying any formal meeting had occurred. The latest developments were made public at midnight local time, but the Israeli Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In its own communique, the Libyan Foreign Ministry said that “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.”“Rather, the minister affirmed Libya’s constants on the Palestinian issue in a clear and unambiguous manner,” it added. It's claimed that there are no Jews left in Libya now, The Times of Israel reported.

August 28, 2023 05:25 am | Updated 05:25 am IST - TripoliThe leader of Libya's government said Sunday that he had suspended his Foreign Minister after her Israeli counterpart announced he had held talks with her last week in Rome. The political row broke out Sunday after Israel's foreign ministry said the two countries' foreign ministers had met the previous week. The statement said Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and Mangoush, his Libyan counterpart in the Tripoli-based administration, spoke at a meeting in Rome hosted by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. But the Libyan Foreign Ministry said Sunday evening that Mangoush had "refused to meet with any party" representing Israel. The Libyan Foreign Ministry accused Israel of trying to "present this incident" as a "meeting or talks".

Libya plunged into deadly chaos after the overthrow and killing of its long-serving ruler Muammar Gaddafi following a bombing campaign by the US-led NATO military alliance in 2011. This intervention ignited clashes between rival militias backed by foreign powers that poured weapons and mercenaries into the country. Since 2015, Libya has been divided between the UN-recognized government in Tripoli and parallel institutions in Tobruk, allied to renegade military commander General Khalifa Haftar. This week, we are focussing on Libya, a once prosperous North African country that was destroyed during a disastrous NATO-led invasion in 2011. The second part of our program will be on the situation in Niger after the military takeover of the country last month.

Tripoli, Libya – Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh has suspended Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush and referred her to an investigatory committee, following revelations that Mangoush privately met with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in Rome last week, sparking outrage in Libya which has no formal diplomatic ties with Israel. Protesters gathered outside Dbeibeh’s Tripoli home demanding accountability, while others stormed the downtown Foreign Ministry building where Mangoush’s office is located. According to Israel’s statement, the two FMs discussed potential bilateral relations and preserving Jewish sites in Libya during the secret meeting facilitated by Italy’s FM. Libya’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged the controversial encounter but claimed it was unplanned with no agreements made, denying any normalization talks with Israel and reaffirming its support for Palestinians. Mangoush’s meeting with Israel despite longstanding anti-normalization laws threatens to further inflame tensions.

Shares 13 EmailIn a move that will lead to speculation about another Muslim country normalising relations with Israel, the Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said he met with his Libyan counterpart, Najla Al-Mangoush, in Rome last week. In a statement issued by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Cohen described the meeting as “historic” and the first between Libyan and Israeli officials at such a high level. The Israeli minister said he discussed with Al-Mangoush “the great potential for the two countries from their relations, as well as the importance of preserving the heritage of Libyan Jewry, which includes renovating synagogues and Jewish cemeteries in the country.”The first-ever meeting between the Israeli and Libyan foreign ministers was arranged by their Italian counterpart Antonio Taiani. There is no comment yet from the Libyan authorities on the Israeli minister’s statements. But in 2021 Libya’s ruling presidential council suspended Foreign Minister Najla Al-Mangoush for “administrative violations” and barred her from travelling.

ROME – Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and Libyan Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush met last week in Rome, according to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, marking the first known official talks between foreign ministers of the two countries. In remarks following the talks, Minister Cohen spoke positively about the significance of the meeting, calling it “a first step” in developing Israel-Libya ties. Minister Cohen situated the encounter within Israel’s broader diplomatic outreach efforts toward countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The Libyan Foreign Ministry has not publicly commented on last week’s meeting in Rome. The talks were confirmed by former Israeli spokesman Ofer Gendelman and other Israeli officials.

Al-Mishri slammed the GNU after Israeli media reported al-Mangoush met with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in Rome last week – the first known talks between foreign ministers of the two countries. “The GNU has gone beyond all forbidden lines and it has become a duty to bring it down,” al-Mishri said in a statement. He pointed to information indicating there have been previous meetings between Libyan officials in this government and visits to occupied territories. The GNU, headed by Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Dbeibah, has not commented publicly on the reported meeting with Israel. But it was confirmed by multiple Israeli officials.

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Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, Libyan Foreign Minister Najla El Mangoush (Photo: Israeli Foreign Ministry)Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen met with Libyan Foreign Minister Najla El Mangoush in Rome last week, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed on Sunday. During this first meeting, Cohen and El Mangoush examined the possibilities for cooperation and relationship between the two countries, as well as preserving the heritage of Libyan Jewry. “The historic meeting with the Foreign Minister of Libya, Najla El Mangoush, is the first step in the relationship between Israel and Libya,” Cohen said. El Mangoush, the first woman to serve as Libya's foreign minister, represents the internationally recognized government of Libya. The Libyan foreign ministry did not comment on the meeting.

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Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen held a meeting with his Libyan counterpart in Italy last week, although the two countries do not have diplomatic relations, a statement from the Israeli foreign ministry said on Sunday. The meeting between Mr Cohen and Libyan Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush was reportedly organised by the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani. No formal diplomatic agreement has been made between Libya and Israel throughout the history of both countries. Ms Mangoush belongs to Libya's Tripoli government, which is led by Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibeh, known for his closeness with Italy. Libya might also face a crisis with its neighbouring countries of Tunisia and Algeria, whose foreign policies reject any kind of normalisation or formal relations with Israel.

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen met with his Libyan counterpart, Najla Mangoush, last week in Italy, the Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday, marking the first-ever official meeting between the countries’ top diplomats. The two met to discuss the possibility of cooperation and the preservation of Jewish heritage sites in Libya. “The size and strategic location of Libya provides enormous importance and enormous potential for the State of Israel to establish ties with it,” he added. While Israel and Libya have never had ties, there have long been reported contacts between Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam and Israeli officials. In response to news of the meeting, Libyan presidential candidate Suleiman al-Bayoudi, who is running for the post in the UN-backed government, harshly critized the encounter.

Share Comment on this story CommentJERUSALEM — The Israeli and Libyan foreign ministers met secretly in Italy last week, Israel’s Foreign Ministry announced Sunday, in what it said was the first-ever meeting between the country’s top diplomats. Choose your plan ArrowRight The meeting between Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and Najla Mangoush, foreign minister of the Tripoli-based government, marked a small breakthrough for Israel’s government, whose hard-line policies toward the Palestinians have led to a cooling of its burgeoning ties with the Arab world. “I spoke with the foreign minister about the great potential for relations between the two countries,” Cohen said in a statement. He said the meeting was hosted by Italy’s foreign minister in Rome. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said talks also touched on possible Israeli assistance for humanitarian issues, agriculture and water management.