Several cities in western Libya, including Tripoli, Zawiya, Sabratha, Gharyan, and Bani Walid, witnessed protests late Monday night into Tuesday. Demonstrators demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbaiba, accusing his Tripoli-based Government of National Unity of attempting to normalise ties with Israel.
The protests were sparked by recent comments from former Foreign Minister Najla Al-Mangoush. During a televised interview on Monday, Al-Mangoush revealed that her controversial August 2023 meeting with former Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in Rome had been “pre-arranged by the government in Tripoli and its Israeli counterpart.”
Al-Mangoush stated her willingness to face an investigation but clarified she had not received any formal summons from the Libyan Attorney General regarding the meeting.
In September 2023, the Attorney General launched a committee to investigate the incident, while Dbaiba temporarily suspended Al-Mangoush and referred her for questioning. Dbaiba also publicly rejected any normalisation with Israel.
Eli Cohen, Israel’s former Foreign Minister, defended the meeting at the time, stating on 28 August 2023 via social media that his ministry “works through open and covert channels to strengthen Israel’s foreign relations.”
The protests reflect growing dissatisfaction with Dbaiba’s government and underline Libya’s strong opposition to any perceived attempts to normalise relations with Israel.
