Libyan Prime Minister Rejects Normalization of Relations with Israel
The Libyan Prime Minister residing in Tripoli, Abdelhamid Dbeiba, has strongly rejected the possibility of normalizing relations with Israel. This comes after news broke of a secret meeting between the foreign ministers of both countries.
Secret Meeting Causes Controversy
Last Sunday, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen publicly announced the possibility of a private interview between himself and the Libyan Foreign Minister in Rome. This would have been the first meeting of its kind between the top diplomats of both countries.
However, in response to this revelation, Dbeiba suspended Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush from work and initiated an investigation into the meeting. Libya, a strong supporter of the Palestinians, considers it illegal to normalize relations with Israel under the 1957 law.
Dbeiba Reiterates Refusal to Normalize Relations
During a televised ministerial meeting on Thursday evening, Dbeiba made it clear that the Libyan government stands firm in its refusal to normalize relations with Israel. He emphasized the importance of the Palestinian cause and declared, “Long live Libya, long live Palestine, long live the Palestinian cause in everyone’s hearts.”
Protests Erupt in Response
The news of the secret meeting sparked angry street protests in several Libyan cities. Demonstrators stormed the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to express their condemnation, while others targeted and burned the Prime Minister’s residence in Tripoli, according to local reports.
Dbeiba acknowledged that someone within the government had acted independently in organizing the Rome meeting and promised that harsh measures would be taken in response. However, he did not provide further details.
Libya’s Complex Political Situation
Since the NATO-backed uprising that toppled dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been plunged into chaos. The country is divided between the UN-backed government in Tripoli and a competing administration in the east.
All sides in the conflict have the support of armed groups and foreign governments. Gaddafi himself was anti-Israel and a staunch supporter of the Palestinians.
