Israel pulls envoy after embassy attack

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Israel’s ambassador to Egypt and senior staff have been evacuated home after protesters stormed a building containing the country’s embassy in Cairo on Friday night.

Israel Radio said on Saturday that the plane carrying Yitzhak Levanon, the ambassador, and others had landed in Israel.

Israel’s consul for state affairs was left behind to maintain its embassy, as Israel weighed its response to the attack by dozens of protesters on the building that houses its diplomatic mission.

The AFP news agency reported that Egyptian commandos had entered the embassy building as it was attacked by protesters to escort six Israeli citizens to safety.

US President Barack Obama earlier called on Egypt to “honour its international obligations” to protect the diplomats and told Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, that Washington was taking steps to resolve the situation.

Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, also spoke with Mohamed Kamel Amr, the Egyptian foreign minister, who cut short a trip to Poland as Essam Sharaf, the Egyptian prime minister, called a crisis cabinet meeting.

An Israeli government official who wanted to remain anonymous told the Al Jazeera bureau in Jerusalem that Israel was grateful to Obama and Egyptian government for helping to resolve the situation.

“Serious violation of diplomatic behaviour’

But it said the incident was a blow to Israeli-Egyptian relations and a “serious violation of accepted diplomatic behavior”.

“This could have been a real tragedy, We are thankful to all who helped resolve this matter. Over the last few hours there was a real concern for the lives of our people,” said the government official.

Pulling its diplomats even temporarily out of Egypt would represent another regional setback for Israel which has already seen relations with Turkey, another erstwhile regional ally, turn sour amid Turkish anger over last year’s deadly raid by Israeli commandos on a Gaza-bound flotilla .

The Israeli embassy has been a focus for protests in Cairo amid a downturn in relations since Hosni Mubarak, the former Egyptian president, was ousted from power in February.

Five Egyptian border guards were killed last month during an Israeli operation against suspected gunmen who killed eight Israeli citizens, prompting Egypt briefly to threaten to withdraw its ambassador.

Al Jazeera

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30 responses to “Israel pulls envoy after embassy attack”

  1. 7akibalash Avatar

    here’s another example of arab savagery.
    I can almost predict john’s comment on this ………. “mossad had the israeli embassy ransacked and burned…bla bla bla bla bla”

    1. shankarees Avatar

      Oh!  Of course, everything has to be a conspiracy.  That would be another joke to record for history.

  2.  Avatar

    here’s another example of arab savagery…

    1.  Avatar

      Oh!  Of course, everything has to be a conspiracy.  That would be another joke to record for history.

  3. Sadly speaking, these actions prove that the so called Arab spring has gone in the wrong path. Please do not think that I support Israel but these actions prove the total bankruptcy of the Arab spring.

    Sooner or rather then later the infamous Moslem brotherhood will hijack the Egyptian massses and this will radicalize the entire region. What a shame.

    1. shankarees Avatar

      It took the West 800 years to evolve democracy and human rights since the Magna Carta in the year 1215.  I don’t expect the fictional world of Arabs to take into their psyche what democracy and human rights are in a few months.  Hence, the majority continues to be savages, except for handfuls in Lebanon and else where.  The Iranians did the same to the U.S. embassy.  Simply put don’t expect for the A-rabs to become Scandinavian-thinking humans, regardless whether the attacked location is Israeli, Mongolian or whatever. 

    2. PROPHET.T Avatar

      Sebouh Good day,
      I share some of your concern over the Arab spring, but We have to realize that 50 years of dictatorships and corruptions won’t be erased in few months. This revolution has yet to achieve its goals. It might take a good 5 years before we find out the result of this revolution. The army council has yet, as demanded by the people, to set an election date. I think they council is trying to slow down reforms because sooner or later this council would have to be transparent and reformed itself. It is after all an institution of the old regime.
      As for your concern about the brotherhood taking over, I ‘d be less worried; Brotherhoods don’t count for more than 20 % of Egyptians. In worst case scenario, If they can win an election in a respected and fair democratic process, then be it. Democracy is the only way to make extremists less extreme. Extremists usually flourish when there is no political life in place. Remember what Edward Saiid said(something to this effect, not exact wording); when a society lacks a political life and freedom, and the states is ruling with an iron fist, people go to the mosque as a last hope( hoping for a second change in the after life) . Give them hope, and they will choose the right path.

      1. I sure hope so!

  4.  Avatar

    Sadly speaking, these actions prove that the so called Arab spring has gone in the wrong path. Please do not think that I support Israel but these actions prove the total bankruptcy of the Arab spring.

    Sooner or rather then later the infamous Moslem brotherhood will hijack the Egyptian massses and this will radicalize the entire region. What a shame.

    1.  Avatar

      It took the West 800 years to evolve democracy and human rights since the Magna Carta in the year 1215.  I don’t expect the fictional world of Arabs to take into their psyche what democracy and human rights are in a few months.  Hence, the majority continues to be savages, except for handfuls in Lebanon and else where.  The Iranians did the same to the U.S. embassy.  Simply put don’t expect for the A-rabs to become Scandinavian-thinking humans, regardless whether the attacked location is Israeli, Mongolian or whatever. 

    2. PROPHET.T Avatar

      Sebou,

       I share some of   your 
      concern  over the Arab spring, but
      We have to  realize that  50 
      years of dictatorships and 
      corruptions won’t  be  erased  
      in  few  months. This revolution has yet to achieve its
      goals. It might  take  a good 
      5  years  before we 
      find  out  the 
      result of  this  revolution. The army council has yet, as
      demanded by the people, to set an election date. I think they council is  trying 
      to  slow  down 
      reforms because   sooner  or later 
      this  council  would 
      have to  be  transparent  and 
      reformed itself. It is after all an institution of the old regime.

      As for your  concern
      about the brotherhood taking  over, I ‘d
      be  less worried; Brotherhoods   don’t 
      count for  more than 20 % of  Egyptians. In 
      worst  case  scenario, If  they can 
      win  an  election in a  respected and fair democratic  process, then 
      be it. Democracy   is the only way
      to make extremists less extreme. Extremists usually flourish when there is no political
      life in place. Remember what  Edward
      Saiid said(something  to this effect, not
      exact  wording); when a society  lacks a political  life 
      and  freedom, and the states is ruling
      with an iron  fist, people  go to the 
      mosque as  a  last 
      hope( hoping for  a second  change in the 
      after life) . Give them hope, and they will choose the right path. 

      1.  Avatar

        I sure hope so!

  5. Are the Coptics next?

    1. shankarees Avatar

      Jesus protect them!

      1. 5thDrawer Avatar

        ‘Gods’ are not involved directly in anything … except in the interpretations of human minds – which are often befuddled.

  6.  Avatar

    Are the Coptics next?

    1.  Avatar

      Jesus protect them!

      1.  Avatar

        ‘Gods’ are not involved directly in anything … except in the interpretations of human minds – which are often befuddled.

  7. PROPHET.T Avatar

    Almost every news site I looked at, reported that  the Israeli  envoy  had to be  rescued under the cover of  darkness, Only  yalibnan reported that He was pulled out…..

  8. PROPHET.T Avatar

    Every other  news  site I  looked  at , reported that  the Israeli  envoy  had to  be  rescued  under the cover of  darkness, Only  yalibnan  reported   that  He  was  pulled out…..

  9. I understand protest but entering the embassy is just does not make sense,Is it now Israel the problem or dictatorship, I think the army is creating the whole thing in an excuse to tll the west that nothing work with these mobs other than army shoes over their heads.It doesn’t make sense that army couldn’t protect the embassy when few weeks agao the managed to kick the asses of all people who gathered again is Tahrir square.Egyptian wickedness !!!

  10. I understand protest but entering the embassy is just does not make sense,Is it now Israel the problem or dictatorship, I think the army is creating the whole thing in an excuse to tll the west that nothing work with these mobs other than army shoes over their heads.It doesn’t make sense that army couldn’t protect the embassy when few weeks agao the managed to kick the asses of all people who gathered again is Tahrir square.Egyptian wickedness !!!

  11. Israel’s Ynet news website said Netanyahu thanked the US President Barack Obama. “The mob attack on the Israeli embassy is a serious incident but could have …
     

  12. Israel’s Ynet news website said Netanyahu thanked the US President Barack Obama. “The mob attack on the Israeli embassy is a serious incident but could have …
     

  13. If I were an arab, I would be ashamed of the way a bunch of savages tried to destroy the Israeli Embassy and if they could have gotten to them, they would most surely have killed any Israelis they came across.  Some jerk named Mustapha already claimed that he and his cohorts beat up some Israeli worker in the building, and he says it so proudly.  It’s people like this who unfortuantely represent what the quintisential arab is and does to people in America, and most Americans don’t like what they see.  How will always attacking Israel be of any benefit to the arabs?  After more than 70 years of trying to destroy the Jewish himeland, you’d think that someone would finally realize that the jews are not going away, and neither is Israel.  The Middle east would be such a nice place to visit if only the arabs would stop blaming Israel for all their problems.  All their problems are caused by their leadership, and that’s the wasy it has been for decades. 

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar

      Centuries, actually …

    2. rich, you are correct that the behaviour is shamefull and uncalled for and   may be a provocative ploy to induce more trouble for israeli arab relations but i am sure  you are aware that it is not limited to arabs. worse things have happened when concerts get cancelled, soccer fans out of control.etc.

  14. If I were an arab, I would be ashamed of the way a bunch of savages tried to destroy the Israeli Embassy and if they could have gotten to them, they would most surely have killed any Israelis they came across.  Some jerk named Mustapha already claimed that he and his cohorts beat up some Israeli worker in the building, and he says it so proudly.  It’s people like this who unfortuantely represent what the quintisential arab is and does to people in America, and most Americans don’t like what they see.  How will always attacking Israel be of any benefit to the arabs?  After more than 70 years of trying to destroy the Jewish himeland, you’d think that someone would finally realize that the jews are not going away, and neither is Israel.  The Middle east would be such a nice place to visit if only the arabs would stop blaming Israel for all their problems.  All their problems are caused by their leadership, and that’s the wasy it has been for decades. 

    1.  Avatar

      Centuries, actually …

    2. rich, you are correct that the behaviour is shamefull and uncalled for and   may be a provocative ploy to induce more trouble for israeli arab relations but i am sure  you are aware that it is not limited to arabs. worse things have happened when concerts get cancelled, soccer fans out of control.etc.

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