Israel’s observer status within the African Union (AU) was suspended on February 6, during the 35th summit of the AU in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
Member states reluctantly agreed to suspend the status initially granted to Israel in July 2021, and decided to create a committee “to examine the issue.”
The six-member committee will include South Africa and Algeria, who opposed AU Chairman Faki’s move to accredit Israel, as well as Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who supported it, according to The Times of Israel.
Cameroon also asked to be on the committee, while South Africa requested the inclusion of Nigeria as well, says the same source.
The committee will present its findings at next year’s AU summit, either ruling to activate or annul Israel’s status within the continental institution.
In a speech at the summit, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh called for the withdrawal of Israel’s observer status, saying that “Israel should never be rewarded for its violations and for the apartheid regime it imposes on the Palestinian people.”
According to diplomatic sources to Israeli news outlet I24News, the suspension of the vote on Israel’s status within the AU’s general assembly, originally scheduled for Sunday afternoon, was decided “to avoid a possible unprecedented split in the history of the AU, as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.”
Israel previously held observer status at the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), but remained unsuccessful in its attempts to get it back after the OAU was disbanded in 2002 and replaced by the AU.
Israel’s accreditation in July last year sparked protest from powerful member states, including South Africa and Algeria, who argued the status was a direct contradiction with AU statements supporting the occupied Palestinian territories.
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.