Egypt appoints new ambassador to Israel

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry confirmed on Tuesday the appointment of Yasser Ridah as its new ambassador to Israel. Ridha, who was stationed in the past in China, Cyprus, Iraq, Germany and Italy, was described by the ministry as a diplomat with "diverse experience in Arab and Israeli affairs."

Ridha's last served as the deputy director-general of Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit's office. His close ties to Aboul Gheit could aid efforts to warm relations between Jerusalem and Cairo.

The Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper reported several months ago that Ridah is expected to arrive in Israel as part of wide-scale rotation of Egyptian diplomats. Cairo will also be replacing its envoys to the United States, Britain and the United Nations. 

Ridha will be replacing Mohammed Assem, who has been posted to Egypt's Tel Aviv Embassy since 2005. Assem will be returning to Egypt. Though he kept a relatively low profile during his three-year term, Assem stirred considerable outrage in Israel after dismissing a 2005 terror attack in which three Israelis were killed as a "minor" incident which would likely have no impact on regional developments. He also said the attack would not be the last.

In an interview with Ynet at the time, Assem rejected Israeli claims that Egypt had been negligent by not preventing the smuggling of arms across its border and into the Gaza Strip immediately after Israel withdrew.

"There is always criticism in Israel and there is always dissatisfaction," he said. The disengagement, he added, "was a half-step in the right direction."

The Associated Press contributed to this report