Israeli, Libyan FMs hold secret meeting to discuss normalization

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
27 Aug 2023 23:05
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Israeli and Libyan foreign ministers met in Italy to discuss the possibility of normalizing relations.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen delivers a speech during the unveiling ceremony for a bust of a famous Hungarian football player and coach Arpad Weisz (1896-1944) who was murdered during the Holocaust, Budapest Hungary, on May 31, 2023 (AFP)

Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eli Cohen, reportedly held a clandestine meeting with his Libyan counterpart, Najla Al-Mangoush, in a bid to explore possibilities for the normalization of relations between Tripoli and "Tel Aviv".

The meeting, which took place last week in Italy, was hosted by the Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, as revealed by Israeli media outlet Channel 12.

The secretive encounter marks the first time foreign ministers from "Israel" and Libya have engaged in direct talks, opening the door for the Libyan government to shamefully join the group of normalizing Arab states. The discussions are believed to have revolved around opportunities for collaboration and communication, with a particular emphasis on preserving the heritage of Libyan Jews, according to Cohen.

"I spoke with the foreign minister about the great potential for the two countries from their relations," Cohen said in a statement, "as well as the importance of preserving the heritage of Libyan Jewry, which includes renovating synagogues and Jewish cemeteries in the country."

During the meeting, Cohen highlighted the strategic significance of Libya's stature and location, underscoring the importance of forging ties with the country. He also indicated that through normalizing relations, "Israel" would offer the Libyan government "the possibility of cooperation" on "aid in humanitarian issues, agriculture, water management."

All of the listed issues have been a result of direct US and NATO interference that was launched on March 19, 2011, in Libya, to overthrow its late President Muammar Gaddafi and destabilize a leading Arab country.

Political analysts have noted that this engagement was preceded by a series of discreet phone calls between the ministers. It is reported that these exchanges laid the groundwork for the face-to-face meeting, underscoring "Israel's" continued work on allying itself with Arab states.

However, the Libyan side has not yet officially confirmed the meeting. Observers speculate that the Libyan leadership's response could shed light on their willingness to engage in these discussions and potentially pave the way for future diplomatic efforts.

Libya remains a divided nation, with the Tripoli government led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh and the government of Osman Haftar operating in the eastern region, supported by the parliament and military commander Khalifa Haftar.

While the notion of a possible normalization between Libya and "Israel" is not entirely new, this recent development carries substantial weight, as it represents a blatant step towards dialogue between the two governments.