Israel’s New Bid to Forge an Arab Ally in Libya Sparks Backlash
- Landmark ministers’ meeting took place in Rome, Israel said
- Israeli opposition blasts government for announcing encounter
Eli Cohen
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Israel’s latest attempt to forge fresh alliances in the Arab world hit a stumbling block in Libya, sparking criticism at home and prompting anti-government protests and the suspension of the North African nation’s top diplomat.
Demonstrators gathered late Sunday in the capital, Tripoli, and other western Libyan cities, some of them burning Israeli flags, following the announcement that Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen had met his Libyan counterpart Najla Mangoush in Rome the week before.