Algerian Foreign Minister Slams African Union Over Israel

Algerian Foreign Minister, Ramtane Lamamra has slammed the African Union's decision to grant Israel an observer status as a double mistake.

Ahead of the opening of the 35th Africa Union summit on Saturday, Lamamra said in an interview with Radio France International that;

"We were not the ones who initiated the granting of observer status to anyone. There is a double fault with this case."

"The first mistake was to grant an observer status to Israel without conducting consultations with the AU member states, including Algeria."

"The decision was bad and should not have been taken."

He also added that; "Had prior consultations taken place, the decision would not have been taken without a doubt."

"And the second mistake was that there was a division among the member states on this issue and this was left without any attempt to correct it."

"This is bad for the organization, and it may jeopardize the solidarity that must exist between the member states."

The Daily Sabah reports that several AU countries are expected to demand revocation of Israel's observer status in the pan-African body during the 2-day AU summit.