Mauritania cuts diplomatic ties with Israel
Tuesday, March 10, 2009 E-Mail this story Free Headline Alerts
TEL AVIV Ñ Mauritania has severed diplomatic relations with Israel and expelled its ambassador from the North African state which is confronting a growing Al Qaida network.
In January 2009, Mauritania recalled its ambasador from Israel during the war with Hamas. Nouakchott, in what officials termed the first step toward the termination of all ties, said it had suspended diplomatic relations with Israel.
Officials said the expulsion of Israel's ambassador to Nouakchott took place on March 6. The staff of the Israeli embassy in the Mauritanian capital was also kicked out of the country.
"Israel has decided to close its embassy in Nouakchott," the Israeli embassy said in a statement. "The ambassador is on vacation."
Diplomatic sources said Israel conducted low-level security activities in Mauritania, which has been fighting the Al Qaida network in North Africa. The sources said the overthrow of the elected government in August 2008 led to a steady downturn in relations between Jerusalem and Nouakchott.
"We saw this coming," an official said.
Mauritania had been the only country in North Africa with full diplomatic relations with Israel.
Israel has low-level or unofficial relations with other North African states such as Morocco and Tunisia. Egypt and Jordan remain the only Arab League members with full diplomatic ties to the Jewish state.