Syrian Security Forces on Alert Near Damascus, Deir Ezzor as Sweida Protests Enter 2nd WeekDemonstrators are seen on the eighth day of protests. The Observatory said dozens of people took to the streets of the town of Bakara in eastern Deir Ezzor in solidarity. Another rally was held in western Deir Ezzor. The local security committee ordered the arrest of any individual who takes part in a protest, added the Observatory. The security forces have been intimidating the people to deter them from taking to the streets.

The Libyan foreign minister has fled to Turkey out of fear for her safety, Libyan officials said Monday, amid a growing uproar in Libya over news that she met with her Israeli counterpart in Rome last week. Libya’s internal security agency confirmed that the minister, Najla el-Mangoush, had left the country, saying in a statement on Facebook that it had not helped her do so. Two foreign ministry officials, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue, said Ms. el-Mangoush had flown to Turkey because of safety concerns. The prime minister of Libya’s internationally recognized government, Abdul Hamid Dbeiba, announced on Facebook on Sunday night that he was temporarily suspending Ms. el-Mangoush and launching an investigation into the matter. The Libyan foreign ministry said that the encounter with the Israeli foreign minister in Rome last week was “informal and unplanned,” and that in the meeting Ms. el-Mangoush had reaffirmed Libyan support for the Palestinians.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and Mangoush met in Rome last week. AdvertisementThe Libyan foreign ministry, meanwhile, sought to downplay the importance of the meeting as “unprepared and an unofficial meeting during a meeting with Italy’s foreign minister. However, two senior Libyan government officials told The Associated Press the prime minister did know about the talks between his foreign minister and the Israeli chief diplomat. Share this article ShareHarchaoui said the Libyan prime minister’s decision to suspend his foreign minister “undoubtedly” aimed at calming public anger. AdvertisementIn Israel, Yair Lapid, a former foreign minister and prime minister, criticized Cohen for going public with the sensitive meeting.

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Libyan Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Dbeibeh suspended Foreign Minister Najla Al-Mangoush on Sunday after she secretly met in Rome with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen. "It was decided to suspend Libyan Foreign Minister Najla Al-Mangoush and to launch an investigation against her," said a decree published by the Government of National Unity. On Saturday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said a “historic meeting” was held last week between the foreign ministers of Israel and Libya. Dbeibeh appointed Fathallah Al-Zani, the current youth minister, as interim foreign minister and referred Al-Mangoush to an investigation panel. Meanwhile, a group of activists gathered in front of the Foreign Ministry building in Tripoli and in other provinces to protest the meeting between Al-Mangoush and the Israeli foreign minister.

The announcement by Israel that talks had taken place was surprising given that it was not known to be courting Libya, a staunch foe and champion of the Palestinian struggle, especially under former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. During his rule, thousands of Jews were expelled from Libya and many synagogues were destroyed.

EventProtests are ongoing nationwide as of early Aug. 28 after Israel's Foreign Ministry announced that Libyan Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush secretly met with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen last week in Italy. In Tripoli, protesters have stormed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and reportedly set Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh's residence on fire. There have also been reports of gunfire in the vicinity of the foreign affairs ministry. Heightened security and disruptions to transport and business are likely near protest locations, especially in Tripoli, over the coming hours. Additional demonstrations and clashes between protesters and security forces cannot be ruled out over the short term.

OCCUPIED-AL-QUDS: The foreign ministers of Israel and Libya met last week, Israel´s foreign ministry said on Sunday of what is reported to be the first such diplomatic initiative between the two countries. The unprecedented talks between Eli Cohen and his Libyan counterpart in the Tripoli-based administration, Najla al-Mangoush, took place at a meeting in Rome hosted by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. “I spoke with the foreign minister about the great potential for the two countries from their relations,” Cohen said in a statement from the foreign ministry. There was no immediate confirmation of the meeting either from Rome or from the authorities of the internationally recognised Libyan government. Like several other North African countries, Libya has a rich Jewish heritage.

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Tripoli [Libya], August 28 (ANI): Libya's prime minister Sunday night suspended Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush from her role after her recent meeting with Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen sparked anger in the country, The Times of Israel reported. Shortly after Israel released a press release announcing and applauding the sit-down, the nation's Foreign Ministry also quickly released a statement denying any formal meeting had occurred. The latest developments were made public at midnight local time, but the Israeli Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In its own communique, the Libyan Foreign Ministry said that “what happened in Rome was an unofficial and unprepared casual meeting, during a meeting with the Italian foreign minister, and it did not include any discussions, agreements or consultations.”“Rather, the minister affirmed Libya’s constants on the Palestinian issue in a clear and unambiguous manner,” it added. It's claimed that there are no Jews left in Libya now, The Times of Israel reported.

August 28, 2023 05:25 am | Updated 05:25 am IST - TripoliThe leader of Libya's government said Sunday that he had suspended his Foreign Minister after her Israeli counterpart announced he had held talks with her last week in Rome. The political row broke out Sunday after Israel's foreign ministry said the two countries' foreign ministers had met the previous week. The statement said Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and Mangoush, his Libyan counterpart in the Tripoli-based administration, spoke at a meeting in Rome hosted by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. But the Libyan Foreign Ministry said Sunday evening that Mangoush had "refused to meet with any party" representing Israel. The Libyan Foreign Ministry accused Israel of trying to "present this incident" as a "meeting or talks".

Libya plunged into deadly chaos after the overthrow and killing of its long-serving ruler Muammar Gaddafi following a bombing campaign by the US-led NATO military alliance in 2011. This intervention ignited clashes between rival militias backed by foreign powers that poured weapons and mercenaries into the country. Since 2015, Libya has been divided between the UN-recognized government in Tripoli and parallel institutions in Tobruk, allied to renegade military commander General Khalifa Haftar. This week, we are focussing on Libya, a once prosperous North African country that was destroyed during a disastrous NATO-led invasion in 2011. The second part of our program will be on the situation in Niger after the military takeover of the country last month.

Tripoli, Libya – Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh has suspended Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush and referred her to an investigatory committee, following revelations that Mangoush privately met with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in Rome last week, sparking outrage in Libya which has no formal diplomatic ties with Israel. Protesters gathered outside Dbeibeh’s Tripoli home demanding accountability, while others stormed the downtown Foreign Ministry building where Mangoush’s office is located. According to Israel’s statement, the two FMs discussed potential bilateral relations and preserving Jewish sites in Libya during the secret meeting facilitated by Italy’s FM. Libya’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged the controversial encounter but claimed it was unplanned with no agreements made, denying any normalization talks with Israel and reaffirming its support for Palestinians. Mangoush’s meeting with Israel despite longstanding anti-normalization laws threatens to further inflame tensions.

Shares 13 EmailIn a move that will lead to speculation about another Muslim country normalising relations with Israel, the Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said he met with his Libyan counterpart, Najla Al-Mangoush, in Rome last week. In a statement issued by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Cohen described the meeting as “historic” and the first between Libyan and Israeli officials at such a high level. The Israeli minister said he discussed with Al-Mangoush “the great potential for the two countries from their relations, as well as the importance of preserving the heritage of Libyan Jewry, which includes renovating synagogues and Jewish cemeteries in the country.”The first-ever meeting between the Israeli and Libyan foreign ministers was arranged by their Italian counterpart Antonio Taiani. There is no comment yet from the Libyan authorities on the Israeli minister’s statements. But in 2021 Libya’s ruling presidential council suspended Foreign Minister Najla Al-Mangoush for “administrative violations” and barred her from travelling.

ROME – Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and Libyan Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush met last week in Rome, according to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, marking the first known official talks between foreign ministers of the two countries. In remarks following the talks, Minister Cohen spoke positively about the significance of the meeting, calling it “a first step” in developing Israel-Libya ties. Minister Cohen situated the encounter within Israel’s broader diplomatic outreach efforts toward countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The Libyan Foreign Ministry has not publicly commented on last week’s meeting in Rome. The talks were confirmed by former Israeli spokesman Ofer Gendelman and other Israeli officials.