Yaacov Amitai, Israel’s new ambassador to Egypt, presented his credentials on
Monday to Egyptian Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, three months after
Yitzhak Levanon, the previous ambassador, left his post.
The Foreign
Ministry in Jerusalem issued a statement emphasizing that during the ceremony in
Cairo, during which ambassadors from other countries also presented their
credentials, “Hatikva” was played, along with the other national
anthems.
The statement said the presentation of credentials was held in a
“cordial atmosphere,” and that Amitai and Tantawi spoke and “emphasized the
importance of the peace agreement and cooperation to both countries.
“I
will do everything I can to enhance understanding and to foster cooperation
between Israel and Egypt,” Amitai said.
Israel now formally has an
ambassador in Cairo, but no embassy. Since September 9, when the embassy in
Cairo was ransacked and six security guards were rescued at the last minute from
an angry mob, the skeletal embassy staff – including Amitai – has been working
from makeshift premises in the city, coming back to Israel for the
weekends.
Israel is looking for a new location for the
embassy.
Israeli officials say that there is good cooperation with
Tantawi and the military council he heads, which is in control in Egypt, and
that the military appreciates the importance of the peace treaty, and also
realizes that breaking it would harm Cairo’s relationship with the
US.
The concern in Jerusalem is that as the governing forces in Egypt
become more responsive to the population, and the population is unhappy with the
treaty, there will be pressure from below to re-open it and make adjustments.