Libya dismisses foreign minister after meeting with Israeli counterpart causes outcry

Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) has dismissed Foreign Minister Mohamed Sayala after a series of meetings between Sayala and Israel's secret foreign minister drew harsh criticism from many within the country. GNA Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj said in a statement that Sayala had been relieved of his post due to a “lack of accuracy in clarifying the facts on the foreign relations of the State of Libya and failure to comprehensively coordinate the details related to it.” Although Libya has not officially had diplomatic relations with Israel since its founding in 1948, the GNA government has maintained secret contact with the state since at least the beginning of 2018. Sayala is known to have met with Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz several times in Europe. The meetings have been heavily condemned within Libya, particularly by the country's Islamist parties, who reject any attempt to normalize ties with the Jewish State.