LAPID ‘CELEBRATES’ AS ISRAEL GRANTED OFFICIAL OBSERVER STATUS AT THE AFRICAN UNION

Fri 23 July 2021:

After nearly two decades of trying, Israel has finally been granted observer status at the African Union, the Foreign Ministry confirmed yesterday. The colonial state was a member of the AU’s forerunner, the Organisation of African Unity, which was disbanded in 2002.

“This is a day of celebration for Israel-Africa relations,” said Foreign Minister Yair Lapid. “This diplomatic achievement is the result of efforts by the Foreign Ministry, the African Division, and Israeli embassies on the continent.”

Lapid described Israel’s long absence from the AU as an “anomaly.” The continental bloc has a history of supporting anti-colonial movements and naturally warms towards the Palestinian cause. Palestine already has observer status at the AU. “Membership will help us strengthen our activities on the African continent and with the member states of the organisation,” claimed the minister.

Among the issues that are seen as Israel’s priority is the voting record on matters related to the occupation state. Multinational organisations like the AU and the UN are often highly critical of Israel over its many human rights abuses.

In May, for example, a senior AU official condemned “the violent attacks in Al-Aqsa Mosque” by Israeli forces, as well as Israel’s 11-day bombardment of the Gaza Strip which killed more than 250 people, including women and children. The same official reiterated “the continued strong support of the African Union with the Palestinian people in their legitimate quest for an independent and sovereign State with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

Despite its long track record of vocal support for the Palestinians, the AU — which was born out of the continent’s anti-imperialist struggle — has been criticised for not doing more to help the Palestinians in their own anti-colonial struggle. Indeed, in recent years, some of its members have deepened ties with the occupation state despite their pro-Palestine rhetoric.

In a separate statement, Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairman of the African Union Commission, stressed the AU’s position over the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict, reiterating the bloc’s stance that a two-state solution was ”necessary for a peaceful co-existence”.

“[Faki] emphasised that the path towards long lasting peace and stability requires that the peace process and the solutions sought must not only be acceptable, but must guarantee the rights of all parties,” read the AU’s statement.

In May, Faki condemned Israel when its forces bombarded the besieged Gaza Strip for 11 days, as well as Israeli security forces’ attacks at the Al-Aqsa Mosque – Islam’s third-holiest site located in occupied East Jerusalem – saying the Israeli army was acting “in stark violation of international law”.

Pro-Palestine language is typically featured in statements delivered at the AU’s annual summits.

Faki used last year’s summit to denounce then-US President Donald Trump’s plan for the Middle East, drawing applause in the AU’s main hall when he said it “trampled on the rights of the Palestinian people”.

Photo: Yair Lapid during the final stage of Blue and White election campaign in Tel Aviv, 15 September 2019 [Faiz Abu Rmeleh/Anadolu Agency]

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