Egypt to Israel: Halt sale of pharaoh-era artifacts
Antiquities minister asks Interpol to check how 126 ancient artifacts on sale in Jerusalem left Egypt
Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities announced on Saturday that it has taken measures to stop the sale of ancient Egyptian artifacts in an online auction hall in Jerusalem.
Antiquities Ministry official Ali Ahmad said that the 126 pieces in question, from the Pharaonic era, were traced through a routine search of international auction halls periodically carried out by Egyptian authorities.
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Egyptian Antiquities Minister Mohamad Ibrahim turned to Interpol to "follow up with the responsible authorities in Jerusalem and to ask the Israeli authorities to conduct background checks on the proof of ownership and explain how it left Egypt as a prelude to reclaim," AFP reported.
Ibrahim is demanding that the 126 pieces be returned to Egypt. According to Al-Ahram, the artifacts include a collection of ancient Egyptian clay vessels, vases and figurines.
The Egyptian Embassy in Israel has already turned to the Foreign Ministry and the Antiquities Authority in an effort to stop the sale of the artifacts.
AFP contributed to the report
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