Foreign Ministry closely monitoring Egyptian protests

As riots rage in Cairo, Foreign Ministry considers keeping embassy closed; Netanyahu tells gov't spokesmen not comment on situation.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Avigdor Lieberman 521 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozlimski)
Avigdor Lieberman 521
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozlimski)
The Foreign Ministry on Saturday was closely monitoring the protests in Egypt, especially those in the capital Cairo, where the Israeli embassy is located.
As a result of the riots in Cairo, the Foreign Ministry was considering not opening the embassy on Sunday, which marks the beginning of the working week in Egypt.
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The disturbances in Cairo came close to the streets where the Israeli embassy is located, a day after the Egyptian army stepped up security around the embassies of the United States and Britain, fearing the angry mob might try to storm them, as happened in the Islamic revolution in Iran in 1979.
The Foreign Ministry estimated that there are about 100 Israelis currently residing in Egypt, however there was no intention to evacuate them from the country.
However, the Foreign Ministry made it clear that they remain on the alert, and was exploring all options in light of developments.
An updated travel warning issued Friday night by the Foreign Ministry warned Israelis not to travel to Egypt unless it was an essential trip.
Click here for full Jpost coverage of unrest in Egypt
Click here for full Jpost coverage of unrest in Egypt
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has ordered silence on anti-government protests in neighboring Egypt but security officials said they worry the violence could threaten ties and spread to the Palestinian Authority.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the two officials said Netanyahu had told all government spokesmen not to comment on the situation in Egypt.
The security officials said they are worried that a regime change could threaten Israeli-Egyptian relations and that violence could spread to the Palestinian Authority.