Mohammed Bassiouny, Egypt’s new Ambassador to Israel, presented his credentials to President Chaim Herzog Tuesday. The ceremonies at the Presidential residence marked the restoration of top-level Egyptian diplomatic representation in Israel for the first time since Cairo recalled its former Ambassador, Saad Mortada, during Israel’s invasion of Lebanon in 1982.
Bassiouny remained in Tel Aviv at that time and for the next four years as Charge d’ Affaires. His appointment as Ambassador was announced at the summit meeting between Premier Shimon Peres and President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt in Alexandria two weeks ago.
The new envoy arrived at the Presidential residence in a car provided by Herzog. As he alighted, the Egyptian flag was raised and the Egyptian national anthem was played. Bassiouny reviewed a military police guard of honor. He was accompanied by members of the Egyptian Embassy staff in Tel Aviv.
They were greeted by Herzog, Deputy Foreign Minister Ronni Milo and David Kimche, Director General of the Foreign Ministry. Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir is in New York. Bassiouny brought a message from President Mubarak. In his brief remarks, he expressed hope that the improvement in relations between Egypt and Israel would continue and that a just peace settlement would be found in the Middle East.
Herzog said in reply that he hoped he would soon be able to receive the credentials of Ambassadors from all of the Arab states.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
