Netanyahu: Disclosure of Israeli Foreign Minister's Meeting with Libyan Counterpart Was Not Beneficial

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, on Sunday held the country's Foreign Minister responsible for the disclosure of a secret meeting with his Libyan counterpart, which sparked severe reactions in Tripoli. Eli Cohen's office announced on August 26 that he had met with Najla Mangoush, his Libyan counterpart, in early August in Italy. This statement followed reports from Israeli media about the meeting. Abdulhamid Dbeibeh, the Prime Minister of Libya, dismissed Mangoush in the face of a wave of protests against the meeting. In response to a question about the news release, Netanyahu told Cyprus' Ant1 television that it was clear that the disclosure was not beneficial. He added, 'I have instructed all government ministers that for such meetings and their announcements, they must coordinate in advance with my office.' Analysts say Dbeibeh and other Libyan leaders have been trying to establish relations with Israel, hoping that the United States, which has prioritized the normalization of Arab relations with Israel, would support them in their internal political struggles. Cohen, in a post on social media on August 28, defended his actions, stating that he has always used caution to strengthen Israel's foreign relations through both open and covert channels. The first official meeting between the foreign ministers of Israel and Libya has become problematic; the suspension of Najla Mangoush. Israel rejected the establishment of a consulate for the Palestinian Authority in Jerusalem. Armed conflicts have once again plunged the Libyan capital into violence.