Diplomatic incident at the opening of the 36th African Union summit in Addis Ababa. An Israeli diplomat was expelled from the opening ceremony. Israel denounces an act severe “. The AU replied that the diplomat in question was not invited.
With our correspondent in Addis Ababa, Florence Morice
Video of the incident was quick to circulate on social media. It shows African Union security personnel escorting an envoy from Israel, the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s deputy director for Africa, Sharon Bar-li, out of the summit hall.
It is a “serious” deportation, according to Israel. In response, Ebba Kalondo, spokesperson for the chairperson of the AU Commission, explained that the diplomat was ” asked to leave because only the Israeli ambassador accredited to the organization, Aleli Admasu, had received a personal invitation. ” It is unfortunate that the person in question abused this favor “, continues the spokesperson.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, affirms to Agence France-Presse that Ms. Bar-li had ” proper accreditation “, as ” observer and accuses the African Union of being hostage to a small number of extremist states such as Algeria and South Africa “.
► To read also: African Union: opening of the 36ᵉ summit in Addis Ababa
Behind this incident, there is implicitly the question of the status of Israel, which is not resolved. Last year, it provoked heated debates, after Moussa Faki had decided to grant observer status to this country. A commission had been set up to look into this sensitive issue. But she never got together.
Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, told AFP on the sidelines of the Addis Ababa summit that Israel should ” back up his accusations “.
The case falls badly for the Israeli government in its relations on the continent
For Israel, this is a particularly embarrassing incident, at a time when Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has made strengthening relations with the African continent one of his country’s main foreign policy objectives.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted in the middle of Shabbat, which is quite rare. It is regrettable to see that the AU has been held hostage by a small number of extremist countries like Algeria and South Africa, motivated by hatred and controlled by Iran, the statement reads. .
The question of the observer status of the Israeli delegation is the source of deep discord within the AU. At last year’s summit, debate on the issue was suspended to avoid a vote deemed problematic.
On several occasions, the Palestinian Authority has urged African leaders to withdraw Israel’s accreditation from the continental body, denouncing its regime as ” apartheid “. Efforts are nevertheless continuing to allow the Israeli delegation to participate as an observer in the debates.
In Jerusalem,
Michael Paul
► See also From the OAU to the African Union: history and institutions