Israel's Foreign Ministry revealed Sunday a secret meeting between Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and his Libyan counterpart Najla al-Mangoush in Rome last week, despite the lack of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The meeting, mediated by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, is the first ever between the foreign ministers of the two countries.
"I spoke with the secretary of state about the great potential of relations between the two countries as well as the importance of preserving the heritage of Libyan Jews, including the renovation of synagogues and cemeteries in the country," Cohen said in a statement.
According to the same statement, Cohen said that "the historic meeting with Mangoush is a first step in the relationship between Israel and Libya," adding that "the size of Libya and its strategic location give relations enormous importance and potential for the State of Israel."
The statement also said the two ministers discussed the historical relations between the two countries and "the possibility of cooperation between the two countries and Israeli assistance in humanitarian issues, agriculture and water management."
"The meeting came at an Israeli initiative to establish contacts with Libya," he said.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed that it is working "with a number of countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia in order to expand what it called the circle of peace and normalization with Israel.