Scandal at the African Union summit
Today, February 18, 2023, an Israeli delegation participated in the opening ceremony of the African Union (AU) summit in Ethiopia, however, according to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was expelled.
The case
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced that an Israeli delegation was expelled from the opening ceremony of the African Union (AU) summit in Ethiopia, accusing Iran, South Africa and Algeria of the incident.
The deputy director general of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Africa, Sharon Bar-Li, was seen, in a video released by the press, leaving the complex where the summit is taking place in Addis Ababa, escorted by several guards, after a discussion with the same.
"Israel takes seriously the incident in which the envoy to Africa, Sharon Bar-Li, was expelled from the African Union summit, despite her status as an observer, accredited and with access."
Underlined a spokesman for the Israeli ministry, in a statement released today.
"It is regrettable to see that the African Union has been taken hostage by a small number of extremist countries like Algeria and South Africa, driven by hatred and controlled by Iran."
Added the spokesman for the Israeli ministry, urging African countries to oppose these actions.
The Israeli delegation had accredited observer status to participate in the summit and had legalized and official access.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement, strongly condemned the expulsion, saying that the African Union was taken hostage by a small number of extremist countries, driven by hatred, urging African countries to oppose these actions.
the reactions
The secretary general of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, thanked today, at the summit, the support of the African Union to the Palestinian cause and:
“To the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to end the Israeli occupation and establish their independent state”.
The official Palestinian news agency WAFA advanced.
The Palestinian Authority has repeatedly called on African leaders to withdraw Israel's accreditation from the African Union, denouncing an "apartheid regime" in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967.
Israel
Israel gained observer status to the African Union in 2021 after decades of diplomatic efforts, prompting protests from several members of the 55-nation bloc, including South Africa and Algeria, who say it contradicts the principle of the Union. Africa to support the Palestinians.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to strengthen his country's relations with African countries, having recently inaugurated Chad's first embassy.
Conclusion
Israel's presence in African countries has been the subject of controversy in recent years, with criticism of trade and military agreements between Israel and African countries and calls for solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been trying to strengthen his country's relations with African countries, but has faced resistance in some cases.
The statement issued by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs shows its dissatisfaction with the situation and makes accusations against Iran, which is an ally of African countries that oppose Israel's presence in the African Union.
As such, the expulsion of the Israeli delegation from the AU summit is an episode that illustrates the tension between Israel and some African countries and, in the future, could have serious consequences for relations between Israel and the African Union.
What do you think of this scandal? Should the African Union continue to deal with this situation? We want to know your opinion, do not hesitate to comment and if you liked the article, share and give a “like/like”.
Picture: © José Sena Goulão
