Israel re-opens it’s embassy in Egypt after four years

Egyptian military and policemen stand by the Israeli Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, as hundreds of protesters demolish part of the concrete wall built to protect the embassy from demonstrators. Israel has reopened its embassy in Cairo, four years after an Egyptian mob ransacked the site where the mission was previously located. The Israeli flag was raised during its opening ceremony at the new location of the embassy on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)

Ofir Gendelman, Israel’s prime minister spokesperson to the Arab media, published on his official Facebook page, that a delegation from Israel arrived in Egypt headed by Dore Gold, an Israeli diplomat, to participate in the ceremony held for the re-establishment of the Israeli embassy works in Egypt, in the presence of a spokesperson of Egypt’s ministry of foreign affairs, American ambassador in Egypt, and Israeli ambassador, Haim Koren.

According to Ahmed Abou Zeid, spokesperson of Egypt’s ministry of foreign affairs, what was opened wasn’t the embassy itself, but a temporary headquarters for the embassy in the house of the Israeli ambassador. He also noted that the Israeli ambassador has been present during the past four years since the embassy closed its doors, working from his house..

The ceremony included raising the Israeli flag, unveiling the embassy banner with Israel’s symbol, and playing the anthems of both Israel and Egypt.

In his speech, Dr. Gold said, “Under the leadership of PM Benjamin Netanyahu and the President of Egypt, Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi, we have succeeded in pushing off the threats and we are working together in order to bring stability and economic prosperity to the Middle East.”

On September 9, 2011, thousands of protesters tore down a protective wall surrounding the Israeli Embassy and ransacked the embassy offices. In response, Israel pulled its diplomatic staff out of Egypt. A month earlier, Israeli soldiers killed five Egyptian police officers when Israel went after militants who had attacked civilians near the Israeli-Egyptian border.

Following the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak in February 2011, many Egyptians had called on the government to end diplomatic relations with Israel.