INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
TEHRAN - In a major blow to the Tel Aviv regime, an Israeli diplomat was escorted by security guards out of the African Union (AU) summit in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 18
The AU has said that Israel's observer status at the bloc has been suspended and that means no representative of the entity had even been
invited to the summit this year.But that didn't stop the regime's foreign ministry's deputy director general for Africa, Sharon Bar-li from
the official and escorting the Israeli diplomat out of the assembly hall.The incident has sparked furious Israeli reactions in the occupied
Palestinian territories.The regime is known to be very wary of its international public relations and how it is viewed in the public eye
around the globe.The AU affirmed its full support for the Palestinian people in their "legitimate struggle against the Israeli racist
colonial occupation."As a pariah self-proclaimed "state", the regime needs as much international recognition as it can get.The latest
"severe" expulsion and accusing Iran of orchestrating the move with help from Algeria and South Africa.But the AU commission head Moussa
Faki Mahamat told reporters in very simple terms "we did not invite Israeli officials to our summit."For decades Israel has been lobbying
African governments in a bid to join the AU.The occupation regime finally succeeded in 2021 to obtain an observer status.But that led to
protests within the pan-African bloc over the decision by the AU commission chief.The move was met with anger from member states including
South Africa and Algeria who argued the decision contradicted the AU's position of supporting the Palestinian cause.Last year, the AU summit
suspended the debate on whether to withdraw the official recognition of Israel and instead established a committee to address the
controversial matter.Mahamat explained that in 2022 "we discussed the question of Israel's status as an observer in the African Union
Following these various discussions, the conference decided to set up an ad hoc committee of heads of state on the question, which means
that the statute is suspended until this committee can deliberate."The Palestinian Fatah party as well as resistance movements Hamas and
Islamic Jihad have praised the African Union for expelling the Israeli diplomat from the summit.He added, "That means that the (Israeli)
accusations that South Africa and Algeria were behind the move, a spokesman for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa hit back arguing
"they must substantiate their claim."Another AU official said the Israeli diplomat who was "asked to leave" had essentially used a
would abuse such a courtesy," the official added.The African National Congress (ANC) said it was encouraged by the ousting of the Israeli
delegation from the AU Summit in Addis Ababa.The ANC is a political party in South Africa
A liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid, it has governed the country since 1994, when the first post-apartheid election
should be consistent in their calls for apartheid Israel to be respectful of human life as well as past agreements on how to end the
Therefore, it's not surprising to hear such statements emerging from the country's government against Israeli apartheid in the occupied
is a personality who entered the room with a badge and, naturally, we asked him to leave the premises
arrives here, he is invited, he is invited by the chairperson of the African Union Commission
The official was not invited," Mahamat further explained.The AU has not said whether Israel's observer status would be up for discussion at
principle."The Palestinian resistance in the besieged Gaza Strip has welcome the expulsion.The Hamas movement has hailed all efforts to
block the "Israeli occupation" from attending the annual summit in a move that is "in line with the values and principles of the African
Union."In a press statement, a spokesperson praised the AU's stance in support of the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian people's
legitimate rights to end the occupation and establish a fully sovereign Palestinian state with al-Quds as its capital.The Hamas spokesperson
called on the "brotherly and friendly" African states to embrace such honorable positions and alienate the Israeli regime and its racist and
fascist government from the AU.The Islamic Jihad Movement described the expulsion as "an important step that reflects the strength of the
African countries' positions, particularly Algeria and South Africa."The Palestinians Fatah movement has also lauded the stance of South
Africa and all African countries, saying they "stood by the Palestinian right and opposed Israel's accession to the African Union."At the
conclusion of its summit, the AU affirmed its full support for the Palestinian people in their "legitimate struggle against the Israeli
racist colonial occupation."The summit declaration deplored the continued "Israeli intransigence and the rejection of successive
governments' initiatives and repeated calls from the Palestinian leadership and the international community to engage in peaceful
negotiations."It called on all member states to continue providing support to the Palestinians and reject Israel's violation of the rights
and basic freedoms of the Palestinian people.Likewise, the AU welcomed the adoption by the UN General Assembly at its 77th session of the
to support the State of Palestine in this endeavor.The AU further condemned the Israeli colonial practices that apply the system of
apartheid in the occupied Palestinian territories by discriminating between the Palestinian and Israeli populations on the basis of race and
religion, and "granting the Zionists superiority in rights and privileges over the Palestinian land owners."The Union also stressed its
rejection of the continued aggression on the besieged Gaza Strip, expressing its deep concern about the deteriorating economic and
humanitarian conditions in the coastal enclave.In a speech at the summit, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit warned of an
explosive situation in Palestine as a result of the escalation of "Israeli violations" in recent months, pointing out that al-Quds is being
subjected to a "Judaization scheme."In a further development that has angered Israel, the UN Security Council passed a unanimous statement
(albeit watered down from a resolution last week to avoid a U.S
joint statement saying they were "profoundly worried" by Israel's decision to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank, noting Israel's
move violated international law.It's fair to say this has been a difficult week for the regime with countries across the world condemning
