Opening the new embassy
Israeli Embassy in Cairo reopens four years after evacuation
Diplomatic staff had to evacuate after an Egyptian mob too over former embassy building; now, ambassador's residence has been officially recognized as the new embassy.
Exactly four years after an incensed Egyptian mob took over the Israeli Embassy in Cairo, forcing the embassy staff to evacuate with the help of Egyptian commandos, Israel's Embassy in Egypt was reopened on Wednesday.
For the past four years, Israeli diplomats in Cairo were forced to work in complicated conditions with a small staff out of the ambassador's residence.
From now on, the ambassador's residence will be officially recognized as the Israeli Embassy building until a new building is constructed.
The Israeli Embassy reopened in Cairo.
A delegation led by Foreign Ministry director-general Dore Gold arrived in Cairo to mark the special occasion.
Gold put up a Mezuzah during the reopening ceremony, which was attended by senior Foreign Ministry officials, the embassy staff and Ambassador Haim Koren.
After the ceremony, the raising of the Israeli flag, and the speeches, the embassy's placard with the emblem of the State of Israel was unveiled, and the event came to a close with the singing of the Israeli and Egyptian national anthems.
"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abed Fattah al-Sisi, we managed to thwart off the threats and we are working together towards stability and prosperity in the Middle East," Gold said at the ceremony.
He stressed that "Egypt would always be the biggest and most important country in our region, and there is no wonder it is customary in the Arab world to call it 'Om El Donya' - 'Mother of the World.'
"We are coming on Rosh HaShana, a time of new beginnings, and this event in Cairo is also a new beginning," he added.
Diplomatic officials said the Egyptian recognition of the new embassy is an important diplomatic signal. "It is an opening to deepen and extend the cooperation between the two countries," they said.
