Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: Reports of two IOF soldiers killed in military vehicle explosion in Rafah.
Israeli media: Israeli soldier killed, another wounded in explosion in Rafah.
Medical sources in West Bank: Palestinian killed by occupation fire; wounded and left to bleed while ambulance crews were barred from reaching him in Al-Ain refugee camp, west of Nablus.
Hamas: Facts on ground reveal opposite of claims, as occupation authorities were ones who armed criminal gangs that practiced murder and kidnapping against people of Gaza.
Hamas: US Department of State's false claims fully in line with Israeli disinformation.
Hamas responds to US claims in statement, fully rejects US claims of "imminent attack" or violation of ceasefire.
Field sources in West Bank: Israeli bulldozers vandalize Palestinian lands northwest of Nablus.
Field sources in West Bank: Settlers attack Palestinian farmers harvesting olives in Nablus.
Field sources in West Bank: Armed Israeli settlers torch Palestinian vehicles near olive groves in Turmus Ayya north of Ramallah.
Israeli PM Office: Netanyahu has ordered that the Rafah crossing will not open until further notice.

'Israel' calls expulsion of top diplomatic delegation from AU 'severe'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 18 Feb 2023 18:45
2 Min Read

The Spokesperson for the South African President says that "Israel" must back their claims that their delegation was invited.

  • x
  • dsad
    Security guards escorting out the top Israeli diplomatic delegation that snuck into the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on February 18, 2023. (Screencapture/Twitter)

The Israeli occupation considered on Saturday that the expulsion of its senior diplomatic delegation from the African Union summit is "severe" and "saddening".

An Israeli delegation that snuck into the AU summit on Saturday in Addis Ababa was expelled, as the invitation sent previously to "Israel" to attend the summit's opening was revoked, following pressure from Algeria and South Africa, to bar "Tel Aviv" from participating in any summit-related activities.

The Israeli foreign ministry insisted in its statement that the occupation's deputy for Africa, ambassador Sharon Bar-Li, was an "accredited observer with an entry tag", however, an AU official denied this claim.

An AU official confirmed to AFP that the top diplomat who was "asked to leave" was not invited to attend the meeting, rather only the Israeli ambassador to the union, Aleli Admasu, was on the list.

"It is regrettable that the individual in question would abuse such a courtesy," the official said.

Related News

Hezbollah praises expulsion of Israeli delegation from AU summit

AU Commission Chairperson: Israeli delegation was not invited

Read more: Aboul Gheit at the AU summit: Al-Quds exposed to ongoing Judaization

A video went viral on social media showing guards escorting the israeli sernior diplomat, Bar-li, out of the summit.

“Israeli observer delegation kicked out of African Union summit in Addis Ababa” video by @WallaNews

Kudos to Algeria and South Africa ❤️#Israel pic.twitter.com/bGpYWUwIpQ

— Abier (@abierkhatib) February 18, 2023

A spokesperson for the South African President told AFP at the summit that "They ["Israel"] must substantiate their claim", meaning the delegation's claim of being invited.

A spokesperson for the Israeli Foreign Ministry replied to the development, saying it was "saddening to see the African Union taken hostage by a small number of extremist states like Algeria and South Africa, which are driven by hatred and controlled by Iran," further calling on African countries to "oppose these actions, which harm the African Union movement and the entire continent."

In July 2021, "Israel" was granted the status of an observer member at the AU in a decision made by the AU's Chairperson, Moussa Faki, however, the granting of the status was later suspended in February 2022, following efforts spearheaded by Algeria and South Africa.

Algerian media sources reported earlier this week that stripping "Israel" of its observer status at the union will be on the agenda of the regular African summit held on the 18th and 19th of February.

  • AU Summit
  • African Union summit
  • Africa
  • Israel
  • South Africa
  • Addis Ababa
  • Ethiopia
  • African Union
  • Algeria

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025
Illustration of fists breaking shackles, representing the liberation of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons. (Illustrated by: AL Mayadeen English/Batoul Chamas)

4 prominent Palestinian detainees to be freed: Who are they?

  • Palestine
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Iraqi religious leader Sheikh Jawad al-Khalisi on Al Mayadeen Plus, October 18, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

Most powerful decision-maker in Iraq is US: Sheikh Al-Khalisi

Flags of Iran, Russia, and China (IRNA)
Politics

Iran, Russia, China confirm: Iran nuclear issue out of UNSC

Member of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc Ali Fayyad speaks to Al Mayadeen, October 18, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

Hezbollah, allies will reject direct talks with 'Israel': MP Fayyad

The bodies of killed Palestinians held by "Israel" during the war are downloaded from Red Cross vehicles after their release, at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Oct. 15, 2025. (AP)
Politics

From rubble to graveyards, Gaza continues recovering its martyrs

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS