Egypt yesterday decided to recall its ambassador from Israel to protest the deaths of policemen killed on the border, in the first diplomatic spat between the two nations since the fall of the Mubarak regime.
Cairo also demanded a formal apology from Israel and a probe to determine the circumstances of the deadly shootings which happened during retaliatory attacks on Palestinian militants following the killings of eight Israelis.
Just hours later, Defence Minister Ehud Barak said “Israel regrets the deaths of Egyptian policemen during the attacks on the Egyptian-Israeli border” and promised a full investigation.
“Egypt has decided to withdraw its ambassador to Israel until there is an official apology,” state television reported.
The Egyptian government asked “for an official apology from Israel” at the end of a crisis meeting overnight, the state-run MENA news agency added.
After conflict reports, Information Minister Osama Heykal was quoted by MENA as saying five policemen were killed “inside Egyptian territory as a result of an exchange of fire between Israeli forces and armed elements inside Israeli territory.”
The violence has triggered anger among Egyptians, with hundreds demonstrating overnight outside the Israeli embassy in Cairo demanding the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador and denouncing the Jewish state.
“Sinai, Sinai,” the crowds shouted in reference to the Sinai peninsula where the killings occurred, and “Down with Israel. The people want the ambassador out and the Israeli flag down.”
Yesterday, dozens were still camped outside the building housing the embassy and some torched Israeli flags, an AFP photographer said, as riot and military police stood guard.
Prime Minister Essam Sharaf also expressed his anger in a message he published on his Facebook page.
“Egyptian blood is too precious to be spilled for no reason,” wrote Sharaf.
“Our glorious revolution took place so that Egyptians could regain their dignity at home and abroad. What was tolerated in pre-revolution Egypt will not be in post-revolution Egypt,” he said, referring to the ouster of president Hosni Mubarak’s regime.
Despite a 1979 peace treaty with Israel, many Egyptians still view their neighbour with hostility and there have been calls to revise the peace agreement after a popular revolt ousted Mubarak in February.
The military, which took power after Mubarak’s overthrow, has said it would honour the treaty.
It is the second time that Egypt recalls its ambassador from Israel since the two neighbours made peace.
In November 2000 Egypt did so to protest “the excessive use of force by Israel against the Palestinians after the second intifada.”
Israel’s Barak said he ordered the “army to open an investigation” into the killings.
“The circumstances of this incident will be examined jointly with the Egyptian army,” and the conclusions will be drawn in light of the results of the probe, he said in a statement.
He also insisted that the peace treaty signed between Egypt and Israel was “strategic and highly important for stability in the Middle East.”
A top Israeli defence official stressed meanwhile that peace with Egypt “is a strategic asset” and it would be unthinkable for Israeli personnel to target their Egyptian counterparts.
Amos Gilad, head of the defence ministry political department, also urged patience until the results of a probe are known.