AU summit: Israeli diplomat expelled from opening ceremony

A general view of the opening session of the 36th ordinary session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa on February 18, 2023. AFP - TONY KARUMBA

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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 a “ 

” act.

The AU replied that the diplomat in question was not invited.

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With our correspondent in Addis Ababa,

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 chairman of the AU Commission, explains that the diplomat was " 

 " because only the Israeli ambassador accredited to the organization, Aleli Admasu, had received a personal invitation.

“ 

 ,” the spokesperson continued.

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, affirms to Agence France-Presse that Ms. Bar-li had " 

", as an " 

", and accuses the African Union of being " 

".

► 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, spokesman for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, for his part told AFP on the sidelines of the Addis Ababa summit that Israel had to " 

 ".

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 taken 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 to the continental organization, denouncing its regime described as " 

".

Efforts are nevertheless continuing to allow the Israeli delegation to participate as an observer in the debates.

In Jerusalem,

►

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