The Palestinian Authority welcomed the decision of the Executive Council of the African Union, today, Saturday, to postpone the decision on whether or not to grant Israel the status of an observer member of the union until the next summit in February.
The Palestinian Authority praised the success of the efforts of "friendly countries" to prevent Israel's immediate accession as an observer member to the African Union.
In a press statement, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates confirmed its support for the "responsible position of those countries in preventing division within the African Union."
The ministry announced that it will develop an "integrated action plan starting from this moment until the next African summit, with the aim of making efforts to prevent Israel's accession a success, while providing the capabilities required to make those efforts."
She indicated that President Mahmoud Abbas will participate in the upcoming African Union summit and will, in turn, make an additional effort with the leaders of African countries in order to prevent Israel from being accepted into the union.
According to the statement, African countries thwarted last night an attempt by the commissioner of the Union to pass Israel's membership as an observer to the African Union "without adhering to the work rules and regulations stipulated in the constitutional regulation, which requires prior consultation with member states."
reluctance team
More than 24 member states of the African Union objected to the decision of the Union Commissioner regarding Israel's membership, and demanded that the matter be put on the agenda of the African Union's Ministerial Executive Council.
During hours of continuous discussion on the draft resolution, many different opinions were put forward, which prompted the session's presidency to propose postponing the decision on the issue, and referring it to the leaders of African countries at their summit next year.
Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra said that the debate that prevailed over granting observer status to Israel within the African Union highlighted what he described as the deep division among the member states of the union.
Lamamra added, in a statement, that many countries, including his country, opposed the regrettable and dangerous decision of the Chairperson of the Commission, and defended the supreme interest of Africa, which is embodied in its unity and the unity of its peoples.
He explained to Lamamra that the majority of EU foreign ministers had agreed to postpone the decision on whether or not to grant Israel the status of an observer member in the EU to the African summit scheduled to be held next February.