The Egyptian consul in Tel Aviv, Ahmed Nader, told Monday the Israeli Knesset Speaker, Avraham Burg that Egypt would not nominate in the short term a new ambassador to Israel. Egypt would change this decision if Israel changes its approach towards the Palestinians, the Egyptian official conveyed during his meeting with Burg.
Mohammad Basyouni served as Egypt's ambassador to Tel Aviv until late 2000 when he was recalled in protest over the Israeli atrocities against the Palestinians. Egypt's embassy in Tel Aviv is now headed by the charge d'affaires.
Meanwhile, Israeli ambassador to Egypt Gideon Ben Ami Monday presented his credentials to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, nearly four months after his arrival, a presidential source said.
The former ambassador in Stockholm arrived in Cairo in October 2001 to replace Zvi Mazel, who left Cairo last summer after four years in Egypt.
President Hosni Mubarak usually receives the accreditation of several new envoys at once. Eleven ambassadors - including three from Arab countries that do not have diplomatic ties with Israel -- presented their papers on Monday.
According to some sources, the timing of the presentation of credentials could be linked to a visit last week by Israel’s Defence Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, the most senior Israeli to come to Egypt in more than six months. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
