Libya suspends foreign minister after meeting with Israeli foreign minister

Source: Reuters

Libya suspends foreign minister after meeting with Israeli foreign minister

Reuters
Updated Sun, August 27, 2023 at 5:58 PM EDT·2 min read

JERUSALEM/TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libya's prime minister suspended Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush on Sunday and referred her for investigation after Israel said its Foreign Minister Eli Cohen had met her last week despite the countries not having formal relations.

Israel's statement on the meeting, in which it said the ministers had discussed possible cooperation, prompted small protests in Libya, which does not recognise Israel.

Libya's Foreign Ministry said Mangoush had rejected a meeting with representatives of Israel and that what had occurred was "an unprepared, casual encounter during a meeting at Italy's Foreign Affairs Ministry."

The Libyan ministry's statement said the interaction did not include "any discussions, agreements or consultations" and added the ministry "renews its complete and absolute rejection of normalisation" with Israel.

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Read more: https://news.yahoo.com/israeli-fm-met-libyan-fm-152856401.html