Israeli embassy in Cairo standing empty for five months

Israel’s embassy in Cairo has been standing empty for five months. Ambassador David Govrin and his staff have not returned after leaving the Egyptian capital last December, Yedioth Ahronoth revealed on Sunday.

An official in Egypt’s foreign ministry told the newspaper that Israel has put several security conditions on the return of the ambassador. “Cairo’s security chiefs took these conditions very seriously and were committed to meeting them,” the official explained, “but… the ambassador has yet to return and there is no date for the embassy to be reopened.”

The work of the embassy staff, claims Yedioth Ahronoth, has been carried out from Israel. This has led to their overseas allowances being cancelled retrospectively. Furthermore, the contract for 30 Egyptian employees at the embassy has not been renewed, nor has the rental agreement for the ambassador’s residence. A celebration of “Israeli Independence Day” due to be held at the embassy has also been cancelled.

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Although members of the diplomatic community believe that the presence of the Israeli ambassador in Cairo is important, it is believed that the recent attacks on churches in Egypt may have pushed Govrin to delay yet further his return.