The African Union declined to approve granting Israel observer status at this summit. The African Commission was keen to confirm that it did not invite Israel to attend.
The Africans have built a balanced approach to the Palestinian issue, based on the idea of “Israel and Palestine represented in the Palestine Liberation Organization,” says H.A. Hellyer. The majority of African countries that condemn Israel, demand the establishment of a Palestinian state, he says. But the majority of others reject the first Palestinian state on the other hand.