Zionism and Judeo-Islamic Relations in the Middle East: Libya’s Position · 321traditional anti-Zionist and anti-Israel ideology of the ruling circles in
Tripoli. “Libya has no problem dealing with Israel since Libya views itself
as an African [country] as opposed to an Arab country.... Libyans do not
need to be more Palestinian than the Palestinians themselves.” He stated
clearly that “Libya is thousands of miles away from Israel and we need
not pursue a confrontation with them [i.e., the Israelis].”^38
During the summer of 2005, Saif al-Islam reiterated his position that
Libya’s “state of war with Israel is practically over.... We participated
in the war when Egypt fought [against Israel] and when the Palestinian
factions fought [against it]. But if the Palestinian factors are negotiating
today and sitting at the same table as the Israelis, Egypt, Jordan and all
the Arab countries who are having direct ties and negotiations with Is-
rael and they have embassies [there]—the story is over.”^39 Saif al-Islam’s
repeated message should be viewed in light of Israel’s implementation of
its disengagement plan from the Gaza Strip, conducted in full view of the
international media. This move was rewarded by a subsequent measure
of Arab and Muslim reconciliation with Israel, most prominently the lift-
ing of Bahrain’s economic boycott of Israeli products and the meeting of
Israeli Foreign Ministry officials with their Pakistani counterparts on 1
September 2005 in Istanbul. This meeting was followed by Islamabad’s
declared readiness to begin a dialogue with Israel.^40
Significantly, however, Saif al-Islam avoided reiterating his opinion
vis-à-vis Israel and Judeo-Islamic relations in the last quarter of 2005,
seemingly obeying the orders of his father and other top officials of the
regime. At this time, Tripoli certainly did not need any further destabi-
lizing or discordant input into its rigid political and ideological agenda,
especially in light of the unwanted rumors on both a planned secret visit
by Qadhafi to Israel and on his intention to play a role in the process of
Arab Muslim normalization with Israel. Concurrently, Israeli and Arab
sources reported on the exchange of contacts between the two countries’
representatives, including a meeting between Libyan officials and Israeli
MPs Ilan Shalgi of the Shinui Party and Ephraim Sneh of the Israel Labor
Party.^41 In addition to these rumors, it was alleged that General Musa
Kusa, the director of Libyan Intelligence, secretly visited Israel in Au-
gust 2005 and met Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.^42 These rumors were
denied by Libyan officials, including Foreign Minister ̔Abd al-Rahman
Shalqam.^43 Whatever the truth, the alleged contacts did not bear any dis-
cernible fruit. Moreover, Saif al-Islam’s alleged adoption of his father’s