Israeli officials are rallying the support of African Union member states ahead of a consequential vote by the Union’s Executive Council on Israel’s observer status.
If two-thirds of the 54 member states of the African Union vote against Israel’s membership, the observer status would be revoked.
Diplomatic sources who spoke to the Jerusalem Post said they were optimistic Israel would be kept in.
But least 21 of AU members have protested a decision by the commission chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat in July to grant Israel the observer status – this includes all Muslim African nations, excluding Morocco and Chat. Egypt has signed at least one protest motion against Israel in the AU.
Israeli media are reporting that Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid are actively speaking to African Heads of States to push for support during the Executive Council, set for Feb.2.
Bennett and Lapid have spoke with the president of Senegal, Togo and Burundi in recent weeks.
Israel attained observer status at the AU on July 22 after years of diplomatic efforts. The Middle Eastern country previously held observer status at the AU’s predecessor, the Organization of African Unity (OUA).
The decision triggered backlash from several AU member-states. South Africa called the decision “unjust and unwarranted”.
Chairman of the AU commission Moussa Faki Mahamat said the organization’s decision to give Israel an observer status in the African Union is ‘not linked to any prior process,’ reaffirming the organization’s commitment to the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people.
The AU chief said that the decision was taken on the basis of the recognition of the state of Israel and the normalization of ties with the majority of over two-thirds of AU member states.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.