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Egypt may return ambassador to Israel
CAIRO - Egypt raised the possibility Tuesday of returning an ambassador to Israel soon, according to the official Mena news agency, a move that would signal a revival of full diplomatic ties after a four-year break. "The new spirit in Israeli-Egyptian relations opens the way to a return of the Egyptian ambassador to Tel Aviv," the agency said, quoting "high-level sources".Cairo recalled its ambassador in November 2000 after it accused Israel of Ties between Israel and its largest neighbour took a dramatic upswing on Sunday when Egypt released the Israeli Druze Azzam Azzam who had served seven years of a 15-year sentence for spying. Israel in exchange freed six Egyptian students who had been accused of plotting to kidnap and assassinate Israeli soldiers. The new atmosphere was further underlined Monday when officials said Israel, Egypt and the United States were to set up free-trade zones under an agreement to be signed on December 14. Israel and Egypt have been liaising closely over next year's planned pullout of Israeli troops and settlers from Gaza, with both sides keen to ensure Islamic radicals do not step into any subsequent vacuum in the Palestinian territory. "The return of an Egyptian ambassador could be a precursor for diplomatic representation with countries from North Africa and the Gulf," Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said on Monday. Posted by: Steve White 2004-12-08 |
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