Zecharias Zelalem
THREAD: 🇵🇸 🇮🇱 #AfricanUnion summit 2024 #Gaza
As the continental body gathered in Ethiopia for their annual meeting, a high level Israeli delegation led by Yaakov Blitshtein (Director General Foreign Affairs) landed in Addis Ababa, hoping to deliver a speech on Israel's version of events vis a vis Gaza.
Al Jazeera reports that the delegation was denied access to the African Union headquarters. Israel which gained AU observer status in 2022, has that status suspended.
Zecharias Zelalem
This is why the Israelis delegation made an unannounced visit to Ethiopia. Assuming last year's suspension was a preliminary measure that would be lifted this year, Israeli officials had hoped to be given the chance to win support for its war on Gaza. However, as of this year's summit, the suspension remains in place.
Zecharias Zelalem
A day after Sharon Bar-Li's removal, the African Union summit gained enough support across the continent to pass a motion suspending Israel's observer status, albeit not permanently.
Israel's Foreign Ministry reacted to the suspension and their diplomat's removal saying "it was saddening to see the African Union taken hostage by a small number of extremist states like Algeria and South Africa, which are driven by hatred and controlled by Iran."
Zecharias Zelalem
But by the 2023 summit, opposition to Israel's membership had grown fiercer and a motion was submitted by Algeria to permanently revoke Israel's membership.
While the debate on Israel's status went on, this infamous incident took place. Israel's African Union envoy, Sharon Bar-li, was told she was being kicked out of the summit, and ended up being escorted off the premises by African Union security.
Footage: Middle East Eye.
Zecharias Zelalem
Israel's observer membership had been granted in 2021, a result of fierce lobbying by Israel's Ethiopian born Ambassador to Ethiopia, Alelign Admasu. Israel had attempted to gain membership since at least 2002.
The decision to grant Israel observer status sparked protests by AU member states at the time. Some countries, including Algeria and South Africa, accused AU Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat of violating the AU charter, with the unilateral decision to accept Israel.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/23/israel-granted-observer-status-at-the-african-union
Zecharias Zelalem
Instead, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh was invited back this year, and accused Israel of exacerbating genocide with actions in Rafah.
"Israel is an apartheid state and a state of racism and exclusion both in law and practice," he told the AU summit.
"Allow the voice of Africa and the AU to be unified and loud for Palestinian freedom the right of its people to self-determination and recognition as an independent Palestinian state and UN member," he stated.
Zecharias Zelalem
The President of Comoros, Azali Assoumani, who also serves as the AU's summit chairman, a ceremonial position that rotates annually, wrapped up discussion on Gaza, with praise for AU member South Africa's filing of a case at International Court of Justice against "the genocide Israel is carrying out in Palestine, under our noses."
Unlike the 2019-2022 period, the African Union's approach to 🇵🇸 🇮🇱 is no longer ambiguous, as the massacre of over 20,000 Palestinians has clearly moved the body.
Zecharias Zelalem
It would get far more aggressive. In response to Benjamin Netanyahu affirming that troops would push on with an offensive in Rafah, another visiting observer, Brazilian President Lula da Silva, took to the AU platform, accused Israel of committing genocide and likened IDF operations in Gaza to the holocaust.
An incensed Netanyahu accused the Brazilian leader of being anti semitic and has summoned Brazil's Ambassador.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/its-genocide-brazils-lula-compares-war-gaza-holocaust
Zecharias Zelalem
AU Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat, who had been instrumental in securing Israel's observer status in 2021, has changed course.
“Gaza is being completely annihilated and its people are deprived of all of their rights,” he told the summit yesterday. "I condemn Israel's war on Gaza, which is unparalleled in the history of humanity.”
He went on to call for an independent Palestinian state. These opening remarks set the tone for a flood of similar remarks by permanent and observer members of the AU.
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