Libya suspends its foreign minister following meeting with Israeli counterpart: Libya’s Prime Minister suspended Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush and referred her to investigation after Israel released a statement confirming a meeting between Mangoush and Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, Reuters reports. The meeting, during which the ministers reportedly discussed possible cooperation, led to small protests in Libya, a nation that does not officially recognize Israel.

Mangoush had rejected a meeting with Israeli representatives,and what happened was “an unprepared, casual encounter during a meeting at Italy’s Foreign Affairs Ministry,” the Libyan ministry said. Israel’s statement said the ministers discussed possible cooperation and Israeli aid in humanitarian issues, agriculture, and water management. Libya affirmed its rejection of normalizing ties with Israel following the controversy.

Background: Since 2020, Israel has normalized relations with the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan through the Abraham Accords, facilitated by the US. Libya’s foreign policy is complicated due to long-standing conflicts and deep internal divisions concerning governance control and the legitimacy of decisions made by the Tripoli administration.

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