Egyptian protesters break into Israeli Embassy in Cairo; Obama expresses concern to Netanyahu
Israeli ambassador and others leave Cairo on military plane; protesters tear down Israeli flag, attack security wall outside embassy, and dump Hebrew-language documents from windows.
By Barak Ravid, Jack Khoury and Haaretz Tags: Egypt Barack Obama Benjamin NetanyahuA group of about 30 protesters broke into the Israeli Embassy in Cairo Friday and dumped hundreds of documents out of the windows after a day of demonstrations outside the building in which crowds swinging sledge hammers and using their bare hands tore apart the embassy's security wall.
Protesters clashed with police and set fire to two police truck outside the embassy. Crowds also tried to attack a nearby police station but were turned back by security forces firing tear gas and warning shots. State radio reported that one person died of a heart attack and that 450 people were injured.
Israel's ambassador, Yitzhak Levanon, his family and other embassy staff rushed to Cairo airport and left on a military plane for Israel, said airport officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
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Protesters at the Israeli embassy in Cairo, earlier this year. |
| Photo by: Reuters |
Israeli officials refused to comment on the ambassador's departure.
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Hundreds of protesters converged on the embassy throughout the afternoon and into the night, tearing down large sections of the graffiti-covered security wall outside the 21-story building housing the embassy. Egyptian security forces made no attempt for hours to intervene.
Just before midnight, a group of protesters reached a room on one of the embassy's lower floors at the top of the building and began dumping Hebrew-language documents from the windows, said an Egyptian security official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
In Jerusalem, an Israeli official confirmed the embassy had been broken into, saying it appeared the group reached a waiting room on the lower floor. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to release the information.
No one answered the phone at the embassy late Friday.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Barak Obama spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the situation at the Israeli Embassy in Cairo.
The President's office said in a statement that Obama expressed great concern about the situation at the Embassy, and the security of the Israelis serving there.
The statement said Obama "reviewed the steps that the United States is taking at all levels to help resolve the situation without further violence, and to call on the Government of Egypt to honor its international obligations to safeguard the security of the Israeli Embassy."
Obama and Netanyahu agreed to stay in close touch until the situation is resolved.
Since the fall of Hosni Mubarak in February, calls have grown in Egypt for ending the historic 1979 peace treaty with Israel, a pact that has never had the support of ordinary Egyptians. Anger increased last month after Israeli forces responding to a cross-border militant attack mistakenly killed five Egyptian police officers near the border.
Several large protests have taken place outside the embassy in recent months without serious incident. Friday's demonstration, however, quickly escalated with crowds pummeling the security wall with sledge hammers and tearing away large sections of the cement and metal barrier, which was recently put up to better protect the site from protests.
For the second time in less than a month, protesters were able to get to the top of the building and pull down the Israeli flag.
Crowds outside the building photographed documents that drifted to the ground and posted some of them online.
Senior Israeli officials were holding discussions on the embassy breach.
Israeli Defense Minster Ehud Barak said in a statement that he also spoke with his American counterpart, Leon Panetta, and appealed to him to do what he could to protect the embassy.
Thousands elsewhere protested for the first time in a month against the country's military rulers.
Seven months after the popular uprising that drove Mubarak from power, Egyptians are still pressing for a list of changes, including more transparent trials of former regime figures accused of corruption and a clear timetable for parliamentary elections.
Egyptians have grown increasingly distrustful of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which took control of the country when Mubarak was forced out on Feb. 11 after nearly three decades in power. The council, headed by Mubarak's defense minister, Field Marshall Hussein Tantawi, has voiced its support for the revolution and those who called for democracy and justice.
But activists accuse it of remaining too close to Mubarak's regime and practicing similarly repressive policies, including abusing detainees. The trials of thousands of civilians in military courts has also angered activists.
"In the beginning we were with the military because they claimed to be protectors of the revolution, but month after month nothing has changed," said doctor Ghada Nimr, one of those who gathered in Tahrir Square.
One banner in Cairo read, "Egyptians, come out of your homes, Tantawi is Mubarak."
Demonstrators in Cairo also converged on the state TV building, a central courthouse and the Interior Ministry, a hated symbol of abuses by police and security forces under Mubarak. Protesters covered one of the ministry's gates with graffiti and tore off parts of the large ministry seal.
Protests also took place in Alexandria, Suez and several other cities.
About 850 people were killed in the early days of the Jan. 25-Feb. 11 uprising. Tantawi is scheduled to testify in Mubarak's trial in closed sessions that begin Sunday. The 83-year-old Mubarak is on trial on charges of complicity in the deaths of protesters, a charge that could bring the death penalty.
The judge in the trial banned TV cameras from the courtroom during this week's sessions, and starting Sunday the proceedings will be closed to the media and the public.
The lack of transparency in trials of members of Mubarak's inner circle has angered many in Egypt.
"These are all practices of the old regime: repression and restriction on freedoms," said Cairo protester Khaled Abdel-Hamid.
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"They're dumping our Hebrew documents out the windows? Oh, no! They might find out about our secret dealings with that wonderful man Mubarak who tortured and imprisoned his own people for decades while serving his Israeli masters. Oy gevalt!
Well...well......well so what is new the A-rabs are showing their true desires wipe out Israel except for one minor obstacle brains and nukes= Israel may be time to vaporize the Sinai all the way up to the pyramids then they might behave as part of the 21st century!!!!
From the nascent days of the Zionist state, the Arabs screamed, kicked, revolted, massacred, burned...but the UN declared Israel a state in 1947. The Israelis have been very proud to be a "villa in the jungle" amongst the bloodthirsty savages. Unfortunately, those savages are not going anywhere and your villa will continue to be besieged and attacked.
It can start by dropping all opposition to the Palestinian bid. Palestine is the shortcut to the hearts of the Arabs. Stop opposing their bid for statehood, let the UN recognize it, and then enter into serious negotiations. You will be surprised at the difference. And as a bonus, you will no longer hear a word about Turkish flotillas and such things.
Isn't it ironic that the less dictators in the Middle East and the bigger problem for Israel? It is a big mistake for Israel and the US to ignore the public and support dictators.
Israel would have been in a much better situation.He would have achieved real peace with all the Arab countries including the Palestinians.God bless his sole.
O' Clowna wanted to do away with the former dictator and now look what happens? I won't be voting for him
War will come to the region very soon, Better listen HF
Turkey expelled diplomatic mission last week, Palestinians are about to get recogntion for their state and the Egyptian honey moon is over.. . How long are the Israelis going to keep their heads burried in the sand.....wake up people
Block the Palestinian State,Veto its application,Let Lieberman and Elkin and Netanyahu gob off and continue the occupation and illegal settlements on Palestinian land and this is a taste of how little you will be wanted in the Middle East. Walk in arrogance and you will be rejected by all. Do not forget....in 1948,against all democratic principals and in violation of the UN Mandate Arabs were forced to allow the State of Israel to be born on Arab land. Maybe it is time for the UN to force Israel and America to allow Palestinians to have the little that is left of their land for their state. Many people around the globe would support Israel being pushed right back to its accepted borders of Resolution 181. There is so much arrogance and defiance from Israel that it abuses the compassion and empathy people felt for you at the end of WW2.That is why you succeeded in being granted a state. Now you act like those who persecuted you and treat the Arabs like they don't matter and wonder why you are under threat.
The Egyptian people wanted the Israeli ambassador expelled after the Sinai incident. The military dictatorship didn't expel him. At the end the people's power prevailed. Can you say Chutzpah with an Egyptian accent?
Every act by Israel and by the Egypt military leaders is misguided. It defies odds. 1) Egypt announced restrictions on visas for foreigners. Obviously with a conservative intent, but the net result, just as obviously, will be the opposite. 2) Netanyahu asks Obama for help defending Cairo embassy. Net effect weaken Israel's image across the board. 3) Build a wall around the Israeli embassy in a country where civil unrest is strongly related to antipathy toward Israel? Are you f---ing insane? Don't they have psychology classes in Israel? Things will get very bad soon. And then they will get much worse. You do not want to drag the United States into this. Solve the Palestinian problem now, justly, or leave the land. The other path, which Israel is currently pursuing, will be catastrophic at best.
Sorry but if the people of most of the Third World had a say, the Israeli embassy would not be permitted on their nations' soil. It has nothing to do with Israel being a Jewish state - it has everything with Israel being an occupying force that has dealt mercilessly with Palestinians. That brutality resonates across the planet.
THIS GOES TO SHOW THAT NOT ONE WORD OF AN ARAB COUNTRY CAN EVER BE TRUSTED. DO YOU KNOW WHEN THERE WILL BE PEACE? NEVER!!!! NOT IN MY LIFETINE, NOT IN YOUR LIFETIME, AND CERTAINLY NOT IN GOD'S LIFETIME. ISRAEL MUST FOREVER BE THE FORTRESS ISRAEL, AND DEFEND ITSELF WITH WHATEVER WEAPONS IT POSSESSES.
I feel bad that such attack happened as all foreigner should feel safe in Egypt. However, Israel has to realize that Egypt is not Mubark's anymore. Respect is required, so killing Egyptians without real action from Israel has uncontrolled reactions from the public that are looking for dignity. No one knows how things with go if the negligence from Israeli government continue.
Before the US invades Egypt on behalf of Israel
it is comming Isreal. The only way out is not with guns and bombs it is thru honesty with yourself as to why your country is so hated. It is not because u r jewish, its because your govt is so blind and trapped by the tenets of zionism. How would u act if someone stole your land and treated you like dogs. Blame others all u want ---it wont help your childrens prospects for peaceful coexistance. Bibi is a crazyman. U R viewed in the worlds eyes by your govt, it aint pretty. The Isreali way, shoot em, bomb em, kill em, willl only make things worse. Nieve, i don't think so. Your country is acting outside the bounds of common goodness and coexistance with the rest of the world. Your difiant and parinoid grip on Zionism wiill be your downfall. The world isn't against u as a people, its against how u act and overreact when it comes to human lives. Look at the ratio of dead in the past conflicts 14:1 and where has such deadly sucess got u???
It can start by dropping all opposition to the Palestinian bid. Palestine is the shortcut to the hearts of the Arabs. Stop opposing their bid for statehood, let the UN recognize it, and then enter into serious negotiations. You will be surprised at the difference. And as a bonus, you will no longer hear a word about Turkish flotillas and such things.
That means publically denouncing the Egyptian junta for failing to protect the Israeli embassy, placing on hold the recently announced sale of 150 tanks to Egypt until the situation is rectified to Israel's satisfaction, and making clear that there will be US economic and military sanctions, including a total arms and spare-parts embargo, if there are any further anti-Israel moves by the ruling junta. Private Obama conversations with Netanyahu about Egypt's violation of Israel's embassy is not a credible substitute for any of this.
That means publically denouncing the Egyptian junta for failing to protect the Israeli embassy, placing on hold the recently announced sale of 150 tanks to Egypt until the situation is rectified to Israel's satisfaction, and making clear that there will be US economic and military sanctions, including a total arms and spare-parts embargo, if there are any further anti-Israel moves by the ruling junta. Private Obama conversations with Netanyahu about Egypt's violation of Israel's embassy is not a credible substitute for any of this.
Send in Lierberman and his goons! He'll fix things up.
stupid netanyahu and libermam if they said just sorry they could save a lot of hatred toward israel. i am Egyptian and i did not have problem with Israel people but i had with stupid Israel government
This strong message .. To tell Israel that it must stop its arrogance everywhere!! Tooth for a tooth!
Years of stolen dreams & daily humiliations have a cumulative effect. It is time for Israeli leadership to get serious about addressing the legitimate concerns of its Arab citizens, the Palestinian diaspora and its regional neighbors. If Turkey & Egypt become more adversarial, it will cost Israel dearly in money, time, resources, trade and international credibility. Freezing settlements and moving peace talks forward with sincerity and commitment would certainly help. It is time to settle this festering regional dispute with finality so all can move forward.
No more free lunches for Israel. Arab blood is NOT cheap!
A premeditated plot designed by Erdogan, Ahmadinejad, Syrian Assad in sync with other extremists cronies in the region. Egyptian masses were provoked to storm the embassy of Israel in Cairo.
I as an egyptian am sorry really for what happened,as i see that in Egypt,i see that a man was put in jail in Israel for just throwing a rock at the Egytpians embassy in tel aviv...i could see that Egyptians are getting so far aay from something called democracy to be in status of chaos..I was one of the people of 25 january revolution in Egypt and we did not come out for all this hatered towards others..we protested in peace but i dont know why all this hatereted.. really..Egypt cant live in peace because its people dont want peace
Consider this: Never in the history of USA or Israel, has anyone been able to touch the embassies of foreign states, whether friendly or not so friendly. We are beginning see the true face of Egypt. Most Americans thought that Mohammad Atta ten years ago was an anomaly. I am now not so sure. Egyptians like to claim a long history, implying they were part of the truly great Pharaohs Civilization. Modern Arab Egypt has no connection whatsoever. Even if it did, longevity by itself is not an accomplishment. Cockroaches have been around millions of year. Shame on you, Egypt. You have disgraced yourself more than you can know.
They were all hidden in the toilet. Tee hee.
I doubt that Egypt’s rulers (whoever they are, I am still not sure) were up till now thrilled by Erdogan’s attentions, but they had to play along. Now in view of these public demonstrations, Egypt can no longer overlook the public sentiment and therefore should respond favorably to Erdogan. Military alliance need not extend beyond coordination where the interests of the two countries meet. It need not infringe on a country’s national interests. Therefore there is no need for Egypt to balk at Turkey’s courting, so to speak.
It is true Egyptians are against Israel, but the siginificant majority of Egyptians I know are against the Israeli Embassy incident. I am Egyptian and everyone I know is totally suprised with it as you are. I believe it was a political trap by the army to prove the chaos in the country and some thugs felt in the trap. Cant be sure of the actual motives behind this though
Why does everything have to turn into a violent clash, which solves nothing! Israel is not always innocent, but in case you haven't noticed, the Arab countries have turn to violence time and time again, is this a trend? This solves nothing and only makes YOU look bad.
Perhaps Pres. Obama should talk openly at UN how Hamas is moving its headquarters from Damascus to Cairo- and how many of these protestors are there being paid and urged to cause mayhem at the behest of Iran, Turkey,Syria to escalate violence. Iran newssite told that Countdown to Exodus from Israel has begun.
In no way i agree with Israeli policies in the region but this is wrong and has nothing to do with our revolution. Just some stupid football hooligans are acting stupidly now the army and the gov should react...
Dear Neighbor, Please accept our sincere apology. We the Egyptians have a higher standard than these disgraceful acts of committed against your Embassy office in our country. It is a fact that, we currently do have internal problems including problems between the Ministry of Defense and the Islamic Brotherhood where each party is trying to look good at the price of another in-front of the Egyptian people and that itself is making the government paralyzed in taking any actions before analyzing its internal political gains and losses. We hope this disfunctional situation in our Egypt will end soon. Having said that, please again accepts our sincere apology. We the Egyptians are built far better than that these shameful acts. We ask for understanding and support during these difficult times. Your Next Door Neighbor, A Proud Egyptian
We'll call you, don't call us.
Am an Egyptian I have two feelings about this, as an egyptian am happy that Egyptians are finally able to express their feelings ... At the same time am not happy as a human to my Israeli cousins because the Egyptian outrage will demolish ISRAEL, SHALOM.
Arabs have come a long way from wanting to throw the Jews into the sea to a grudging willingness to accept Jewish presence within the 1967 lines, and now they are about to go back a full circle to where they started. Israel must read the early signs and make peace before the peace window has finally closed, otherwise no one is to blame except itself. The US veto will do Israel a huge disservice
If anyone wants to throw anyone into the sea that would be the Israelis. Perhaps, you haven't noticed all the atrocities they have - and continue to commit.
Israel can easily kill thousands of them and push them back further. As long as they don't accept Israel's conditions, they are risking loosing even more.
They never got off square #1 in that respect. It was all just bottled-up under a cork called Mubarak, in-case you haven't noticed. Now we have an entire generation of young Egyptians who do not know the horrors of war, but are very gung-ho to start another one by the looks of it. We have had a few wars since we last fought Egypt and do not relish the thought of another one, but it is of-course preferable to extermination It's a shame lessons need to be learned at such expense in human lives on both sides.
First this is the result of appeasing settlers. Khabibi it's time to wake up and make real peace with Arabs. Second, Ironically it's the secularists who stormed the embassy not the fundamentalists. I can see the size of battles inside Egypt in the coming weeks.Third I tthink that Egypt has become a banana republic. Police cannot protect anybody there even a foreign embassy not to mention minorities. .
the Muslim Brotherhood would enjoy the support of 2/3 of the Egyptian electorate in any election held. That can only be good news for Islamists and Marxists.
You have a lot to learn if you think Islamists and Marxists have much common interests.
stop this psychopath !
Is not there to protect the Israeli embassy. Time you get the message and get the hell out of where you're not wanted.
Maybe they have taken lessons from the Israeli security forces in the West Bank? Israel is the last country to complain about laxity in providing security - at least for the Palestinians.
Where are the law enforcement authorities?
no more separation walls, and definitely not in Egypt.
Is not there to protect your shills. You don't protect anybody, why should anybody protect you? What goes around comes around
the Egyptian law authorities did exactly that same the IDF do when settlers attach Palestinean civilians. what goes around comes around
You should measure your phrases before saying them. Thank you in advance.
Just about time that egyptians wake up and scrubb off the dirt and get rid off the israeli embassy in cairo.
Soon the US will waste another veto to allow you to continue your occupation until the the last nail in the cifin of two states and then they will be burning down the US embassy
Yes, its all Israel's fault. Wake up, if you think peace with any of these countries will be upheld, you are nuts. As soon as Mubarak was gone, the peace treaty was nothing to the Egyptian people. The only group of I think has a chance to be peacul with Israel is the Fatah, and they jumped in bed with the Hamas. Come on man, Israel needs to be able to protect their own, get a clue.
and now turks are having joint military exercises with Egypt.Is this an accident or well planned strategy against Israel?
It is the best time for the Israeli public to start taking the lead. Your leadership does not care. This is damaging your own dreams to live in Peace in the region. You need to start taking actions to make them go back on track. You have no friends left. The only support you are getting is from the US and it is not based on true friendship but rather on your strong lobby there. You cannot rely on it totally. The whole region is changing and this is a wake up call. Palestinians are seeking their rights only. They are asking what you have asked and got in 1948. What is better, a mutual recognition anf living in Peace and prosperity or fight for ever? There are extremists who want this fight to continue and those are from both sides, do not let them lead you into that dark dangerous tunnel.
Israeli people really have to wake up, before it's too late, all their freinds in the region are gone...
This is roung but you killed the soliders first.... Mubarak is no more here.... We must admit this is how exactly we feel toward israel