Mauritania has expelled Israeli Ambassador Miki Arbel and his staff after having frozen diplomatic relations with Israel to protest the counterterrorist Operation Cast Lead in Gaza that ended in mid-January. Venezuela took similar action several weeks ago.
Located on the northwest coast of Africa, Mauritania is the only other Arab country to enjoy diplomatic ties with Israel at the embassy level besides Jordan and Egypt. Mauritanian officials in the capital city of Nouakchott have given the embassy staff 48 hours to pack up and leave. Israel's Foreign Ministry confirmed the action.
The African and Muslim nation, a member of the Arab League, became the third Arab country to establish full diplomatic ties with Israel in 1999, following Egypt and Jordan. Israel and the United States viewed the relations as important step towards peace in the Middle East.
Spokesmen for military ruler General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz told reporters on Friday, “This is the logical consequence of the freezing of relations between Israel and Mauritania ... there is nothing new.” Mauritania had declared the suspension of diplomatic ties at an Arab summit meeting in Qatar two months ago. Qatar also said it was freezing its lower-level ties with Israel as well.
The current military dictatorship in Mauritania came to power last summer after a coup in which the president and prime minister of the country were arrested.
Mauritania, where oil was discovered three years ago, has been the home to more than 10 coups and attempted coups since it gained its independence from France in 1960.