Egypt and Israel seek to restore diplomatic ties

Egypt and Israel are attempting to restore normal diplomatic relations after Egyptian protestors stormed the Israeli embassy on Friday. The Israeli ambassador to Egypt left Cairo, but is seeking to return. Protestors have been angry at Israel for the killing of five Egyptian border guards last month. 

CAIRO, EGYPT (Catholic Online) - Egyptians have been angry with Israel after Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) conducted a raid against what it said were Palestinian terrorists, fleeing into Egypt. Israel has been the target of several peaceful protests, although the protests turned violent on Friday. Protestors clashed with police and soldiers, then stormed the Israeli embassy. The angry demonstrators destroyed concrete security barriers and threw Hebrew language documents from windows. 

Egyptian officials say at least 20 protestors were arrested following the incident. They are taking a hard line, saying that "emergency law" would be applied and several would be sent to an emergency state security court. 

Unlike other successful revolutions across the middle-east, the Egyptian transition from the government of Hosni Mubarak to a peacetime regime appears to be stalled. Military officials took over the country and have vowed a series of democratic reforms, but the process has been slow and many people feel it is taking too long. Protests against the military government are common.
 
In addition to protesting against the slow pace of reform, protestors are also demanding a hard-line stance against Israel. Many are calling for the closure of the Israeli embassy, ending gas exports to Israel, and an end to a 1978 peace agreement between their countries. 

Both Israeli and Egyptian officials have stated publicly that they want the embassy to reopen, but the Israeli government is awaiting assurances from the Egyptian government that security will be improved and the embassy won't be attacked again. But for a troubled region already beset by cross border clashes between Islamic militants and the IDF, that may be a very difficult request to keep.

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