CAIRO, 23 February 2005 — Egypt yesterday named a new ambassador to Israel, in the latest rapprochement between the two countries following a four-year diplomatic hiatus over the Jewish state’s handling of the Palestinian uprising.
Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said the Israeli government had approved the nomination of Mohammed Asim Ibrahim as Egyptian envoy, which follows the return of Jordan’s ambassador to Tel Aviv two days ago.
Ibrahim is a former ambassador to Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya. Jordan and Egypt announced the return of their ambassadors after a Middle East summit in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh on Feb. 8. That gathering marked the first face-to-face talks between Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, and a warming of ties since the start of the Palestinian uprising in September 2000.
Egypt withdrew its ambassador shortly after the intifada broke out in September 2000, while Amman did not replace a departing envoy in protest at Israel’s actions to quell the uprising.
