Palestinian prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh on Saturday urged the African Union to withdraw Israel’s observer status ADDIS ABABA: Palestinian prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh on Saturday urged the African Union to withdraw Israel’s observer status as heads of state from the 55-member body met for a two-day summit in Addis Ababa. “Israel should never be rewarded for its violation and for the apartheid regime it does impose on the Palestinian people,” he said.