Egyptian Foreign Ministry summoned Israel’s ambassador & demanded written apology from Israel after 3 Egyptian diplomats, including Deputy Ambassador Mustafa Al-Kuny were removed from Easter Mass at Coptic Church in East Jerusalem.
Israel’s Ambassador to Egypt Yaakov Amitai has been summoned by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry for clarification over “inappropriate treatment” of Egyptian diplomats in east Jerusalem over the weekend.
Chapel of St. Helen in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem – Photo: Wikipedia
The Egyptian authorities are demanding an apology from Israel after three Egyptian diplomats, including Egypt’s Deputy Ambassador to Israel Mustafa Al-Kuny, were reportedly removed from the Easter Mass service held at the Coptic Church adjacent to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in east Jerusalem on Saturday.
Cairo maintains that Israeli police prevented the three men from participating in the service, despite their diplomatic status.
An Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman also lamented the brief arrest of the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Mohammed Hussein on Wednesday on suspicion that he had incited disturbances on the Temple Mount.
According to Army Radio, the police said they have no knowledge of the incident and are looking into the allegations. Israeli government officials have concurred that the incident in question was inappropriate, and Deputy Foreign Minister Zeev Elkin has already issued a verbal apology to Egypt.
Cairo is not happy, and is demanding a written apology, Army Radio reported.
View original Israel Hayom publication at: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=9183
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