Netanyahu welcomes return of Egyptian ambassador to Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Egypt’s new ambassador to Israel yesterday, Palestinian Safa news agency reported.

“Over the weekend Egypt’s new ambassador to Israel Hazem Khairat, arrived,” Netanyahu said during the weekly cabinet meeting. “I welcome his arrival and the re-stationing here of an Egyptian ambassador to Israel, something that will enable us to further strengthen relations within this important and key Arab country.”

Egypt withdrew its ambassador to Egypt during the reign of the first democratically elected President Mohamed Morsi three years ago.

The Egyptian Embassy opened in Tel Aviv after the Camp David Peace Accords were signed in 1979. In 1982, Egypt withdrew its ambassador in protest against the Israeli invasion of south Lebanon, he was returned in 1986.

In 2000, Egypt withdrew its ambassador due to the Israeli desecration of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Palestinian Intifada. He was returned in March 2005 only to be withdrawn again in 2012 when Israel waged a war on the Gaza Strip.