Relationship dossier
Israel
Libya
Relationship assessment
Entrenched Libyan opposition to normalization, with limited and politically contentious contact
Israel toward Libya
+5In 2023, Israel’s foreign minister met Libya’s foreign minister in an effort to discuss possible cooperation and relations. The meeting was a notable, limited government contact rather than a formal diplomatic relationship.
Libya toward Israel
-40Libya has maintained a policy of nonrecognition and opposition to normalization with Israel. After the 2023 meeting between the foreign ministers became public, Libyan authorities condemned the contact and removed the foreign minister from office.
Overall relationship
-35The enduring relationship is shaped by Libya’s nonrecognition of Israel and opposition to normalization, with no formal diplomatic relationship. The 2023 ministerial meeting showed that contact was possible, but the Libyan backlash underscored the political constraints on rapprochement.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Israel and Libya lack formal diplomatic relations, and Libya has maintained a policy of nonrecognition and opposition to normalization with Israel. In 2023, Israel’s foreign minister met Libya’s foreign minister, but the meeting provoked a sharp Libyan backlash and did not produce a public rapprochement. The relationship is therefore marked by entrenched political opposition alongside limited, politically sensitive contact.
Areas of tension
- Libya’s nonrecognition of Israel and opposition to diplomatic normalization.
- Libyan condemnation of the 2023 meeting between the foreign ministers.
Key developments
Israel’s foreign minister met Libya’s foreign minister in a meeting intended to discuss possible cooperation and relations; the disclosure triggered a strong Libyan backlash.
Major uncertainties
- The extent and continuity of any private contacts between the governments are unclear.
- The scope and current application of Libyan laws and policies concerning contact with Israel are unclear.