Apartheid unwelcomed in Africa: "Israel" could lose observer status in AU
The African Union's Executive Council will take a vote this week on whether or not to grant the Israeli regime observer status, which requires a majority vote.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid are spearheading an Israeli diplomatic push to ensure that "Israel" does not lose observer status in the African Union, according to The Jerusalem Post.
Following opposition by some African countries to the African Union chairman's unilateral decision to grant "Israel" observer status, the AU's Executive Council will convene in Addis Ababa for a vote to revoke its status.
Bennett has spoken with the President of Senegal on the matter, and Lapid with his counterpart in Togo and Burundi, among others, in order to gain their support.
In order for the motion to revoke "Israel's" status to be revoked, two-thirds of the 54 AU member states would have to vote for it. It is possible that the vote may not pass, or be postponed indefinitely, according to the Israeli daily.
Read more: International Lawyers Challenge The African Union To Revoke “Israel’s” Observer Status
The African Union was founded in 2002, and "Israel" was granted observer status with its inception, but was ousted in 2003 following a campaign by Libya.
South Africa, Sudan, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana were among the countries that opposed "Israel" gaining observer status, whereas Morocco and Chad established diplomatic relations with "Israel" in recent years.
Algeria: Granting “Israel” Observer status could lead to AU’s division
Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra had rejected in August the statements of African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, who insisted on granting “Israel” observer status to the pan-African organization.
Lamamra stated that Mahamat’s statement is an attempt to defend his move without recognizing the repercussions, pointing out that such a stance may lead to the African Union's division.
A group of international lawyers and researchers have launched a legal complaint with the African Commission on Human and People’s rights in September, in order to have "Israel’s" observer status in the African Union (AU) revoked. The complaint was filed on the grounds that the Israeli government is guilty of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and apartheid.
Read more: Prominent Israeli Author: Apartheid more befitting term for "Israel"
The document was provided 133 pages of evidence against "Israel", which utilized witness testimonies from victims of "Israel’s" latest military operation waged against the Gaza Strip. As a result of the 11-days of aggression on Gaza in May, roughly 270 Palestinians were killed, most of them civilians according to Human Rights Watch.