Israeli envoy returns to Cairo after nine-month hiatus

By Mahmoud al-Husseini

CAIRO

Israel’s ambassador to Egypt returned to his post on Tuesday following a nine-month hiatus, according to officials at Cairo International Airport.

Ambassador David Govrin, along with the rest of the embassy staff, was abruptly summoned back to Israel last November due to what were vaguely described as “security concerns”.

At the time, Israel’s Foreign Ministry had refrained from providing any reason for the sudden departure, while the Egyptian Foreign Ministry had said it had “no information” regarding the move.

Egypt became the first Arab country to formally recognize Israel when it signed a peace treaty with the self-proclaimed Jewish state in 1979.

Nevertheless, relations between the two countries remain less than cordial due to longstanding differences, especially over the issue of Palestine.

By Mahmoud al-Husseini

CAIRO

Israel’s ambassador to Egypt returned to his post on Tuesday following a nine-month hiatus, according to officials at Cairo International Airport.

Ambassador David Govrin, along with the rest of the embassy staff, was abruptly summoned back to Israel last November due to what were vaguely described as “security concerns”.

At the time, Israel’s Foreign Ministry had refrained from providing any reason for the sudden departure, while the Egyptian Foreign Ministry had said it had “no information” regarding the move.

Egypt became the first Arab country to formally recognize Israel when it signed a peace treaty with the self-proclaimed Jewish state in 1979.

Nevertheless, relations between the two countries remain less than cordial due to longstanding differences, especially over the issue of Palestine.