The killing of Ihab Al-Sherif, Egypt’s highest-ranking diplomat in Iraq has prompted Cairo to rethink its ties with Baghdad. The Egyptian media and public opinion are currently split on the issue: Leave Iraq, at least for now, or stay and not be deterred by such a heinous crime. The Egyptian government is suffering no such division. While Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit has ordered a reduction in the size of the 11-man staff he insists that Egypt would keep its embassy open with the Egyptian flag flying overhead. This is a courageous and an ultimately correct decision by Cairo. Egypt should not close up shop altogether. True, Iraq is as dangerous a posting as there is in the world, but to flee is to give in to the killers and their desire that Iraq never be accorded international legitimacy. Al-Sherif’s blood, moreover, would have been spilt for naught. The Iraqi government is in complete support of Egypt. It had hoped the assassination will not dissuade Cairo from assuming what it said was a leading role in cementing Iraqi ties with its Arab neighbors. Baghdad deplored the slaying but at the same time it urged fellow Arab and Muslim states to send ambassadors to Baghdad in defiance of the perpetrators of the crime. So too Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, while condemning the slaying of Al-Sherif, was quick to add that when all is said and done, the Arab world should not give up on Iraq — “an important Arab state.”
Other countries, however, might not be as steadfast as Egypt. In the wake of Al-Sherif’s killing, several Arab and foreign governments are reported to be thinking seriously of pulling out their diplomatic representatives from Iraq. Several Arab capitals are now reconsidering plans to expand or upgrade diplomatic missions. The killing had already either reversed or restrained plans for several high-level Arab official visits, further isolating Iraq’s government from its Arab neighbors. Pakistan and Bahrain are not of two minds. Their diplomats have already been recalled following separate shooting incidents; hitting at diplomatic personnel is apparently part of a new strategy adopted by gunmen in Iraq. No one would blame any country for being anxious over representation in Iraq. The Al-Qaeda kidnappers of Al-Sherif, led by Abu Mussab Al-Zarqawi, have made it terribly clear that the price will be high if countries seek to either establish ties with Iraq or set up higher diplomatic representation. Egypt, however, is not bowing to the killers’ threats despite the brutal murder.
Al-Sherif was one of the first Arab envoys sent to Iraq following the setting up of the new government. Following his arrival in Baghdad in June, he tried to keep a low profile in order to better build bridges between Iraq’s myriad of sects. This was never going to be easy. Al-Sherif never got the chance to carry out his mission fully. A similar incident at this time last year, when a member of Egypt’s diplomatic corps was taken hostage, ended in his release following negotiations. There was no such happy ending this time.
