The Israeli Foreign Minister meets his Libyan counterpart, in reference to the flourishing of relations

Cohen said he discussed the importance of preserving the heritage of Libya’s former Jewish community, including the renovation of synagogues and cemeteries. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said the talks also covered possible Israeli assistance in humanitarian issues, agriculture and water management.

A Libyan government official said the normalization of relations between the two countries was first discussed in a meeting between Tripoli Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Dabaiba and CIA Director William Burns, who visited the Libyan capital in January.

According to the official, Burns suggested that the Dabaiba government, recognized as an internationally backed Libyan government, join the group of four Arab countries that normalized relations with Israel under the US-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020.

The official said the Libyan prime minister gave initial approval, but expressed concern about public backlash in a country known for its past support of the Palestinian cause. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter with the media.

The late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was hostile to Israel and a staunch supporter of the Palestinians, including extremist armed groups opposed to peace with Israel.

Libya sank into chaos after a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 toppled Gaddafi, who was later killed, and left the country divided between rival governments in Benghazi in the east and Tripoli in the west. The United Nations is struggling to steer the country toward new elections.

Dabaiba is close to Italy and the West.

Then-US President Donald Trump brokered the Abraham Accords. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been keen to expand relations with the Arab world, but his government has come under fire for its support for settlement building in the West Bank and the ongoing military raids on suspected militant strongholds in the occupied territories.