Libya’s prime minister has suspended his foreign minister after an informal meeting with his Israeli counterpart.
Libya does not recognize Israel, as Tripoli supports the Palestinian cause, and the meeting has sparked protests.
Israel’s Eli Cohen called the meeting with Najla Al Mangoosh a historic first step towards establishing relations.
Israel is trying to build closer ties with more Arab and Muslim-majority countries, such as oil-rich Libya.
But Libya’s presidential council, which represents three of its provinces, said normalizing relations with Israel was illegal.
The speaker’s office in parliament has accused Ms Mangosh of high treason, and Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dabibah has sent her to investigate.
Mr Cohen said they met by chance last week on the sidelines of a summit in Rome, and discussed the “great potential of the relationship between the two countries”.
He said they discussed humanitarian issues, agriculture, water management and the importance of preserving Jewish heritage in Libya, including renovating synagogues and cemeteries.
Libya’s foreign ministry said Ms Mangosh had rejected a meeting with Israeli representatives, and what happened was “an unprepared, unusual confrontation during a meeting at the Italian foreign ministry”. .
A statement also said the talks did not involve “any negotiations, agreements or consultations” and the ministry “renews its complete and absolute rejection” of normalcy with Israel.
After the news of this meeting, protests broke out in the capital Tripoli and some other cities. Roads were blocked, tires were burned and protesters waved the Palestinian flag, although protests appeared to be relatively small.
Libya has been in crisis for years, with the country divided between the interim, internationally recognized government in Tripoli and a rival in the east.
If a deal is reached between Israel and Libya, it will be complicated by political divisions that have existed since the ouster of longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi 12 years ago.
Libyan National Army (LNA) General Khalifa Haftar is running a rival government in the eastern coastal city of Tabruk.
Israel’s charm offensive began under the 2020 Abraham Accords, which seek to have countries hostile to Israel recognize its sovereignty and establish diplomatic relations.
So far, Israel has done so with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco. However, Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has been criticized for building settlements in the West Bank and military raids on suspected militant hideouts in the occupied Palestinian territories.
On Sunday evening, Libya’s presidential council requested an “explanation” from the government about what had happened. The Presidential Council performs the duties of the head of state and is in charge of the country’s military.
A letter from the body said the meeting between the two foreign ministers “does not reflect the foreign policy of the Libyan state, does not represent Libyan national stability and is considered a violation of Libyan law.” who criminalize normalcy with the ‘Zionist establishment'”. .
He also asked Mr Dabiba to “apply the law if the meeting took place”.
Under Gaddafi, a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause, thousands of Jews were expelled from Libya and many synagogues were destroyed.
