BICOM

Israel quietly withdrew its ambassador to Egypt, and all the embassy team, due to fears that ISIS operatives in Cairo would target them.

The Telegraph reported yesterday that Ambassador David Govrin returned to Israel two and half months ago, though his departure remained confidential.

Israeli security officials recommended that the Ambassador and his team return immediately to Israel a few days before the bombing of St Mark’s Cathedral, an ancient Coptic church in Cairo, that killed 27 people. ISIS later claimed responsibility for the attack.

Israeli intelligence concluded that ISIS operatives in Cairo could present an immediate threat to the lives of the Israeli diplomatic team. According to the Telegraph, a spokesman for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said last night that they had no additional information about the issue and did not know when the Israeli ambassador would be returning to Cairo.

Ambassador Govrin arrived in Cairo in August 2016. He has continued to perform his diplomatic duties from Jerusalem and the Israeli Foreign Ministry expressed hope that he would be able to return to his office in Cairo shortly.

Diplomatic relations between Egypt and Israel are at an all time high, especially in relation to security coordination. Both countries face are tackling severe security challenges from ISIS in Sinai and Hamas in Gaza.

In September 2011, rioters attacked the Israeli Embassy and six Israeli security guards were trapped inside. The Embassy later moved to a more secure, discrete location.