Libya’s internationally recognized government relieved Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush of her duties on Sunday following a meeting she held with her Israeli counterpart, which sparked controversy within the country.

Israel’s foreign ministry announced the meeting had taken place in Rome the previous week.

Libyan Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush attends a joint press conference at the conclusion of the Libya Stabilization Conference, in Tripoli, Libya in October 2021.
Libyan Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush attends a joint press conference at the conclusion of the Libya Stabilization Conference, in Tripoli, Libya in October 2021.

The Libyan foreign ministry contested reports that the meeting was officially sanctioned and clarified in a statement that it was an “informal,” “unplanned,” and “non-negotiated” encounter.

The statement emphasized that Mangoush unequivocally reiterated Libya’s commitment to the Palestinian cause.

It’s worth noting that Libya lacks diplomatic relations with Israel, and the idea of normalization remains contentious in the nation. Over the weekend, social media circulated videos of Libyan demonstrators burning Israeli flags and attempting to access a government building in Tripoli.

An anonymous Israeli source familiar with the situation contradicted the Libyan version on Monday, suggesting the meeting between Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and Najla Mangoush was arranged, and the intention was to announce it publicly at some point. The source clarified that there had been discussions about the timing of the announcement but that a consensus had not been reached.

The Israeli foreign ministry released its statement on Sunday in response to inquiries from an Israeli journalist who had learned about the meeting. The source indicated that Israel conveyed this sequence of events to Mangoush.

Cohen characterized the meeting as “historic” and marked it as the “first step in establishing connections between Israel and Libya.” He elaborated on discussions about the potential benefits for both nations from their relationship and highlighted the importance of preserving Libyan Jewry’s heritage, including the restoration of synagogues and Jewish cemeteries.

Since the NATO-backed uprising that ousted former leader Moammar Gadhafi in 2011, Libya has plunged into turmoil. The country has been divided into two rival governments, one located in Tripoli and the other in Benghazi, since 2014.

The parliamentary body aligned with the eastern-based government condemned Mangoush’s meeting with Cohen and called for a “severe penalty.”

Najla Mangoush held the distinction of being Libya’s first female foreign minister.