The African Union (AU) suspended yesterday its debate concerning Israel’s status as observer state. A group of countries have been demanding for the past few months to put up for vote a decision taken last July by Chairman of the AU Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat, to grant Israel such a status. These countries were hoping to reverse the decision via a general vote at the annual AU summit in Addis Ababa. Suspending the debate means that the issue will be brought up again for discussion next year, at the AU summit of 2023.
Newly elected Chairman of the AU Senegalese President Macky Sall said after the meeting that a special committee has been set up for this issue. The committee will consult with member states, with the goal of establishing a consensus on the matter. “It will be composed of eight heads of state and governments, and will present its recommendations at the next summit," he noted.
