The news of a meeting between the foreign ministers of Israel and Libya sparked street protests and unrest among Libyans.
According to Euronews, demonstrations took place in Tripoli and other major cities in the western part of the country. Protesters attempted to storm the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and local media reported an attack on the prime minister's residence in Tripoli.
On August 28, the head of the Government of National Unity, Abdel Hamid Dbeibah, dismissed the foreign affairs minister. The cause was a secret meeting between Najla Al-Mangush and her Israeli counterpart, Eli Cohen.
The first-ever talks between the heads of foreign policy agencies of the two countries took place last week in Italy.
Israel stated that the discussions focused on preserving the heritage of Libya's Jewish community, including synagogue and cemetery restoration, humanitarian cooperation, agriculture, and water resource management.
Tripoli, on the other hand, labels the meeting as "unprepared," "unofficial," and "accidental." Official statements from the authorities emphasize that the interaction between Al-Mangush and Cohen involved "no negotiations, agreements, or consultations."
Libya does not recognize Israel's independence, and diplomatic relations between the two countries are not established.
