Historic Meeting Between Israeli and Libyan Foreign Ministers Discusses Cooperation and Relationship Prospects
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In a written statement from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was announced that a “historic meeting” was held between the foreign ministers of Israel and Libya.
The statement indicated that Foreign Minister Cohen had met with his Libyan counterpart Menguş in Rome, the capital of Italy, last week, with the aim of “examining possibilities for cooperation and relations between the two countries.”
The statement highlighted that the meeting was the “first meeting” between the foreign ministers of the two countries and mentioned that during the meeting, the ministers discussed the historical ties between the two nations, the legacy of Libyan Jews, the possibility of cooperation between the countries, and the assistance Israel can provide in humanitarian issues, agriculture, water management, and many other areas.
Cohen: “We are working with several countries for normalization”
Israeli Foreign Minister Cohen, whose statements were included in the statement, assessed the meeting by stating, “The historic meeting with Libya’s Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush is the first step in Israel-Libya relations.” Cohen emphasized that Libya’s size and strategic location would bring “immense importance and potential” for Israel in terms of bilateral relations and noted that they are working with new countries for “normalization.”
Cohen further stated:
“I discussed the importance of preserving the legacy of Libyan Jews, including the renovation of synagogues and Jewish cemeteries, in addition to the great potential of relations between the two countries with the Foreign Minister. I thank Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani for hosting the historic meeting in Rome. Israel is working with a range of countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia to expand the circle of peace and normalization.”
Libya, a North African country, does not recognize Israel and does not have diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv.
Until the early 1950s, there was a Jewish community in Libya, almost all of whom had migrated to Israel in the years immediately following the establishment of Israel in 1948.
