Country: Israel
Committee: SPECPOL
Topic: The Situation in Libya
Delegate: Owen Hart, Forest Hills Northern High School
Libya has seen a continuous state of chaos and civil war following the death of Muammar Gaddafi, there have been several attempts to create a stable united governing body in the country. None have succeeded. As of now, there are two main groups fighting over control, the House of Representatives (HoR) supported by General Khalifa Haftar and the Libyan National Army (LNA), and the Government of National Accord (GNA). A result of this continued conflict and lack of any unified authority in Libya has been a resurgence of ISIL and several human rights abuses including extrajudicial killings, disappearances, seizure of property and arbitrary detentions. These persist as there is no strong form of government to combat them. Libya’s infrastructure has also been severely crippled by the persisting conflict.
The State of Israel has had a strained relationship with Libya due to its policies and attacks on people of the Jewish faith. A faith and people that the State of Israel was created to provide a haven and respite from persecution like that enacted by the Gaddafi’s regime. The State of Israel has not violated the arms embargo on Libya nor has it funded either side to destabilize the region or interfered in its politics.
The State of Israel believes that a UN mediated political solution between the two sides to be the only solution to provide lasting unity. Without the cooperation of both parties, militias and terrorist organisations will continue to thrive and survive, with no end to the fighting. Libya needs a capable and authoritative government that can exercise the rule of law and power of the courts. Also, the State of Israel believes that targeted assistance to institutions and groups that can ensure stability and manage finances publicly is key to Libya’s rehabilitation.
- Owen Hart
