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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Egypt to withdraw envoy to Israel |
| 2011-08-21 |
| [Emirates 24/7] Egypt has decided to withdraw its ambassador from Israel to protest the deaths of five coppers killed on the border during retaliatory attacks on Paleostinian thugs, state television ... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe? said Saturday. "Egypt has decided to withdraw its ambassador to Israel until there is an official apology," it said. The Egyptian government had asked "for an official apology from Israel" at the end of a crisis meeting overnight, the state-run MENA news agency reported in a statement. Information Minister Osama Heykal was quoted as saying by MENA that five coppers were killed "inside Egyptian territory as a result of an exchange of fire between Israeli forces and armed elements inside Israeli territory." Security forces told AFP that five coppers, including an officer, were killed at the border on Thursday, hours after gunnies believed to have crossed into Israel from Egypt opened fire on buses and cars, killing eight. It is the second time that Egypt, the first Arab country to have signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, recalls its ambassador from the Jewish state. In November 2000 Egypt recalled its envoy from Israel to protest over what it said was "the excessive use of force by Israel against the Paleostinians after the second intifada," or Paleostinian uprising. The government also instructed the foreign minister "to summon the Israeli ambassador in Cairo to protest against the shooting from Israel that caused deaths inside Egypt," the statement said. The Israeli ambassador will also be told that Egypt demands a "joint official probe" to determine how the coppers were killed and who is responsible for their deaths "in order to take legal steps to preserve the rights of the victims and the maimed Egyptians." "Security at the Egyptian-Israeli border is the common responsibility of both parties, not only Egypt's responsibility," the government's statement said. In Israel meanwhile diplomatic officials were holding "consultations" over Egypt's decision to recall its envoy, foreign ministry front man Yigal Palmor told AFP. He did not elaborate. Egypt filed an official complaint with Israel on Friday and demanded an "urgent probe" into the deaths of its coppers, MENA had said quoting a military official. The official said Egypt was conducting a "comprehensive assessment on its side of the border to determine the reasons for the deaths and injuries of Egyptian forces" and the military would take measure to ensure it does not happen again On Friday the Israeli military also pledged to probe the incident. "The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) will investigate the matter thoroughly and update the Egyptians," a front man told AFP on Friday. The Egyptian military has been conducting a week-long operation in the peninsula to uproot Islamist bully boyz behind attacks on police and a gas pipeline to Israel. Egypt's military chief of staff, Sami Enan, headed to the Sinai on Friday to probe the deaths of the coppers. His visit was announced shortly after another policeman was declared dead following a border shootout on Friday, which left one of his comrades gravely maimed with a bullet in the head. Friday night hundreds of people demonstrated outside the Israeli embassy in Cairo demanding the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador and denouncing the Jewish state for the attacks. "Sinai, Sinai," the crowds shouted in reference to the Sinai peninsula where the Egyptian coppers were killed and, "Down with Israel. The people want the ambassador out and the Israeli flag down." Prime Minister Essam Sharaf has said in a message published on his Facebook page: "Egyptian blood is too precious to be spilled for no reason." "Our glorious revolution took place so that Egyptians could regain their dignity at home and abroad. What was tolerated in pre-revolution Egypt will not be in post-revolution Egypt," he said, referring to the ouster of president Hosni Mubarak ...The former President-for-Life of Egypt, dumped by popular demand in early 2011... 's regime in February. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Naturally. If Turkey can play Muslims and Infidels then surely Egypt, one of the most ancient and cultured civilizations in the world, cannot fall behind. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2011-08-21 19:56 |