On Wednesday, the Libyan Ministry of Oil and Gas reaffirmed its rejection of any “participation in organizations or forums attended by the Zionist entity or its members, particularly in the oil and gas sector.”
The ministry’s statement comes after the recent disclosure of a meeting between Foreign Minister Najla Al-Mangoush with her Israeli counterpart, Eli Cohen in Rome. The meeting was held with the sponsorship of the Italian Foreign Minister.
This sparked widespread protests in Libya, with demonstrations erupting in Tripoli and its suburbs. People took to the streets, vehemently opposing any normalization of relations with Israel. The protests extended to other cities, where roads were blocked, and Palestinian flags were raised while tires were set ablaze.
“The Libyan people reject the Zionist entity due to its history of occupying sacred lands, violating the sanctities of the Islamic nation, and perpetrating atrocities against the Palestinian people,” the statement said.
Libya does not recognize Israel, and supports the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Notably, an Israeli official stated on Monday that Al-Mangoush and Cohen engaged in a conversation for over two hours during a meeting in Italy. He told Reuters that the meeting was prearranged at the “highest levels” in Libya, contradicting Libyan statements of an unplanned encounter that sparked protests across the country.
The Foreign Ministry in Tripoli stated that Al-Mangoush had refused to hold any meetings with Israeli representatives, and what occurred in Rome was an “incidental, unofficial meeting during a meeting with Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani.”
However, the Israeli official cast doubt on this account, saying, “The meeting was prearranged at the highest levels in Libya, and lasted for about two hours. The Libyan Prime Minister views Israel as a potential bridge to the West and the US administration.”
Following the disclosure of the meeting, the Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity (GNU) Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba sacked Al-Mangoush. Protests against the government and Israel erupted in Tripoli, with some demonstrators storming the foreign ministry building. By Monday, al-Mangoush had fled the country.