The head of the Government of National Unity (GNU) of Libya, the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nayla al-Mangous, has been suspended.

The decision was announced following the disclosure yesterday, Sunday, of the meeting Ms Manggos had last week with her Israeli counterpart.

According to a government document posted on Facebook, the minister is “temporarily suspended” and an “administrative investigation” will be conducted against her by a committee chaired by the Minister of Justice.

The meeting of the two ministers was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel

The meeting of the foreign ministers of Israel and Libya was announced yesterday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, pointing out that it took place under the auspices of the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani.

According to the announcement, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, in a statement, said he spoke with the Libyan foreign minister “about the great potential of the two countries from their relationship, as well as the importance of preserving the Libyan heritage of Judaism, which includes the maintenance and restoration of synagogues and Jewish cemeteries in the country”.

This is, according to the minister, a “first step in the relationship between Israel and Libya”.

“Libya’s size and strategic location present a huge opportunity for the State of Israel,” he added.

Libya, which has been plunged into chaos since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011, does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel.

The majority of Libya’s Jewish population left the country during the 20 years after World War II, mostly to Israel.

A few hundred Jews were still living in the country at the time of the 1969 coup by Muammar Gaddafi, who subsequently expelled them, confiscated their property and destroyed synagogues.

Israel has normalized relations with some Arab countries in recent years under the Abraham Accords under the auspices of the United States. However, the policy implemented by the Netanyahu government has been criticized by Arab countries following the wave of violence in the occupied West Bank and the continued settlement activity in that territory.