GAZA (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 06th February, 2022) Palestinian ruling factions praised the African Union on Sunday for delaying Israel's accreditation as observer state, a status it was granted unilaterally last year by the chairman of the bloc's commission.
The Fatah political alliance said in a statement that it "welcomes the African Union's decision to suspend the granting of the observer status to Israel as a victory."
The rival Hamas movement, which controls the Gaza Strip, said it appreciated the member states that opposed Israel's accreditation for "reaffirming and supporting legitimate rights of our people."
Moussa Faki Mahamat, the chair of the 55-nation bloc's commission, defended his decision to grant Israel the observer status last July, arguing in a statement that 44 Union members had diplomatic ties with the country.
Faki's decision was disputed by Palestine, Algeria, Nigeria and South Africa, who demanded that Israel's status should be revoked.
A source in the Algerian foreign ministry told Sputnik earlier on Sunday that African Union leaders had decided to suspend Israel's status. A seven-member committee will be set up to look into the issue.
