Israeli observer bid not on African meeting's agenda

KIGALI, Rwanda

A proposal for Israel to gain observer status within the African Union was made too late to be considered at the group’s summit next week in Rwanda, the country’s Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo told Anadolu Agency on Thursday.

"This question of the accession of the Jewish state as an observer was not included in the agenda of the summit,” she said.

She added, however, "Relations between Israel and African countries are quite normal” and so an observer status application could be considered at future meetings, but cautioned that the process could take years.

During an East African tour last week of four countries – Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and Ethiopia – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had gotten support for the observer status idea.

Mushikiwabo added that the African Union Council of Ministers could make a decision in favor of a collective withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

"Ministers agree that the decisions of the court are of a political nature, targeting African leaders," she said.

The council’s final decision will be submitted to the summit, which will bring together African heads of state and government on July 17-18 in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital.