Secretary General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit hailed the AU’s decision, Youm7.com reported.
Hamas also appreciated the stances of African countries in opposition to granting the Zionist regime an observer status in the AU.
In their annual summit held Sunday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the AU leaders agreed to suspend debate on a controversial decision by Moussa Faki Mahamat, chair of the African Union Commission, to accept the accreditation of Israel, postponing a potentially divisive vote.
Faki’s move last July drew protest from influential members including South Africa and Algeria which argued that it flew in the face of AU statements supporting Palestine.
Palestinian Authority prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh on Saturday had called for Israel's accreditation to be revoked, saying it should never be rewarded to apartheid regime.