Egypt media group agrees on massive Israel boycott

The board of directors of the powerful Egyptian media group Al-Ahram has decided to boycott Israel and Israelis of all positions, the London-based Arabic-language daily Asharq Alawsat reported yesterday.

The Al-Ahram group is considered the most powerful media outlet in Egypt. Al-Ahram publishes newspapers considered the official mouthpiece of the Egyptian government.

The boycott, approved by a majority of nine board members over six following a heated debate, includes a ban on meeting with and interviewing Israelis, and a ban on participation in events in which Israelis are taking part.

According to the report, the board of directors also banned Israelis from entering the Al-Ahram offices. The ban includes Israeli diplomats stationed in Egypt.

During the same meeting, it was decided to take action against Dr. Hala Moustafa, the editor of Al-Ahram's Democracy magazine, for meeting with Israeli ambassador Shalom Cohen earlier this month.

A senior editor at the Al-Ahram daily said that the Al-Ahram group has always supported dialogue, and opposed discrimination, including against Israel, but the fact that Israel has "gone against peace and elected an extremist government that opposes peace and supports killing and destruction" had changed the group's outlook.

Moustafa said that she will defend her stance and argue that Israel and Egypt signed a peace treaty, and as such, meeting Israel's ambassador is not a violation of Egyptian law.