Libyan Prime Minister Rejects Normalization of Relations with Israel After Secret Meeting of Ministers

(Patria) - The Libyan prime minister rejected the possibility of normalizing relations with Israel several days after news emerged of a secret meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries.

Last week, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen announced that he and the Libyan foreign minister had held a private meeting in Rome, the first ever between the top diplomats of both countries.

The following day, Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah suspended Minister Najla Mangoush and launched an investigation into the meeting. Normalizing ties with Israel is illegal under a 1957 law in Libya, which has long been hostile to Israel and supportive of the Palestinians.

"We confirm our rejection of any form of normalization," Dbeibah said during a ministerial meeting broadcast on television Thursday evening.

"Long live Libya, long live Palestine, and long live the Palestinian cause in all our hearts," he added.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry declined to comment on Dbeibah's statements.
The meeting sparked street protests in several Libyan cities, prompting Mangoush to flee to Turkey for fear of her safety. Her exact whereabouts remain unknown.

"Unfortunately, there was an individual in the government who acted independently," Dbeibah said, referring to the meeting in Rome. Harsh measures will be taken in response, he added, but did not provide further details.

Two senior Libyan government officials earlier told the Associated Press that the prime minister was actually aware of the talks between his foreign minister and the Israeli top diplomat. One official said Dbeibah gave approval for the meeting, while another said Mangoush informed the prime minister after her return to Tripoli.

Another official also said Dbeibah gave his initial approval to join the Abraham Accords brokered by the United States, but was concerned about public reaction in a country where support for the Palestinian cause is strong. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, AP reports.