The issue of Israel losing its position as an observer member of the African Union will be discussed during the regular African summit, which will take place on 18 February at the organization’s headquarters in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, according to Algerian media sources.
“The Zionist entity is putting pressure on the countries of the [African] continent to accept it as an observer member of the African Union, during the upcoming session,” the sources added.
According to the Al-Shorouk newspaper, Ramtane Lamamra, the Algerian foreign minister, is in South Africa as part of preparations for the summit, which will be preceded by a meeting of the African Union’s Executive Council in the next two days.
On July 2021, the chairman of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, accepted Israel’s accreditation as an observer to the bloc, triggering an unusual dispute within the continental body.
Israel received official recognition as an observer country in the African Union in July 2021 and the Israeli Ambassador to Ethiopia, Alele Admassu, presented his credentials as an “observer to the African Union” to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, at the Organization’s headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Israel’s accreditation provoked complaints from influential AU member states, such as South Africa and Algeria, which argued that it contradicted AU statements of support for the Palestinian territories.
A committee made up of 7 heads of state, including Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, was established by the African Union last year to explore the issue after the organization unanimously opted to postpone its decision to grant “Israel” observer status within the organization.
The decision to postpone Israel’s observer status received a unanimous vote at the African Union summit on 5 February 2022.
This came on the heels of Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh calling on the African Union to withdraw its July 2021 decision, stating that Israel “should never be rewarded for its violation and for the apartheid regime it imposes on the Palestinian people.
“The decision to freeze Israel’s membership in the African Union is a corrective step, and is in line with the African Union’s historical positions in support of the Palestinian cause,” an Arab League statement said.
