CAIRO, August 20, 2011 (WAFA) – Egypt recalled its ambassador to Israel, Yaser Rida, for consultation awaiting explanation and an apology from Israel concerning the killing of three Egyptian soldiers on Thursday near the borders with Israel, said an Egyptian cabinet statement released Saturday.
Israeli forces killed the soldiers while they were in pursuit of an armed group, which penetrated the southern borders with Israel to carry out an attack on Israeli targets. Eight Israelis were killed in the attack.
The Egyptian cabinet met until late Friday night to discuss the implications of the Israeli attack on the soldiers who were on the Egyptian side of the border that left an officer and two soldiers dead.
It said the ambassador would be recalled until Israel apologizes for the 'hasty and irresponsible statements against Egypt.' It also called on the Egyptian foreign ministry to summon the Israeli ambassador to Cairo, Yitzhak Levanon, to question him regarding what the Israeli government intends to do to deal with this situation.
Hundreds of Egyptians protested the killing of the Egyptian soldiers outside the Israeli embassy in Cairo on Friday, demanding to bring down the Israeli flag and to expel the Israeli ambassador. Some protesters attempted to break into the embassy.
Another protest in Suez, where more than 200 Egyptians and political activists gathered Friday night, demanded “to face the Israeli terrorism against Egyptian soil.”
Meanwhile, Hamas leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, called Egyptian officials on Friday urging them to intervene to stop the Israeli onslaught against the Gaza Strip, which has so far claimed 14 dead, including three children, and around 50 injured, including women and children, according to a statement issued by Haniyeh’s office.
Haniyeh also called the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifeh, and the Arab League’s secretary general, Nabil Al-Arabi, to discuss with them the developments in Gaza.
Reports said Egypt is working on bringing a ceasefire between Gaza and Israel to prevent further deterioration in the situation.
President Mahmoud Abbas had also given instructions to call for an urgent meeting for the United Nations Security Council to discuss the Israeli attacks on Gaza.
The Security Council Friday failed to issue a statement condemning the attack on southern Israel after Lebanon, one of 10 non-permanent members of the Security Council’s 15 members, objected to the statement for failing to also condemn the Israeli attacks on Gaza and its settlement activity in the Palestinian Territory.
R.Q./M.A.
