Libyan foreign minister dismissed for meeting with her Israeli counterpart

Israeli Foreign Ministry provided information about the meeting a week after it took place in Rome

TRIPOLI, Libya – Libyan Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush has been dismissed following her controversial meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen.

The meeting sparked large protests across Libya.

Speculation that al-Mangoush would leave the country was denied by Libya’s Internal Security Service, which placed her on a travel ban list.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry provided information about the meeting a week after it took place in Rome. 

The announcement of the meeting drew criticism within Israel, with commentators and opposition politicians such as Yair Lapid questioning the diplomatic implications of the meeting.

Earlier the Libyan Foreign Ministry said al-Mangoush had refused to meet with an Israeli representative and that the meeting was unofficial.

Libya does not recognize Israel and does not maintain diplomatic relations with it.

Fathallah al-Zani, the minister of youth, was given additional responsibility for the Foreign Ministry after al-Mangoush was dismissed.

The fallout from the meeting led to condemnation by Libya’s two legislative bodies, the High Council of State, and the House of Representatives.

The Libyan Presidential Council also called for clarification of the meeting, saying it contradicted Libyan foreign policy and national principles.