Lieberman. Radical statements
Photo: AFP
Brazilians arrested in Cairo with 'Lieberman propaganda'
Yisrael Beiteinu leaflets encouraging immigration to Israel found by Egyptian security forces in luggage of 24 tourists from Brazil. Tourists detained at airport on suspicion of 'spreading radical views'
Egyptian authorities have arrested 24 Brazilian tourists upon their arrival in Cairo on suspicion of "spreading (Israeli Foreign Minister) Avigdor Lieberman's
radical views."
Customs officials searched the Brazilians' luggage, and found brochures carrying the symbol of Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu
party in 10 of the suitcases.
A series of Arab media outlets, based on a report by Egyptian al-Shorouq, said Wednesday that local security forces had arrested the tourists at Cairo's international airport after they had landed on flight 894 from Rome.
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"The leaflets are in Portuguese and call on Brazilians to immigrate to Israel," an Egyptian source reported.
According to the report, customs officials decided to inform the security forces of the incident, keep the 10 suitcases and release the rest of the luggage with which the Brazilian tourists arrived.
Lieberman's recent statements have overclouded the relations between Israel and Egypt. The foreign minister did meet with Egyptian Intelligence Minister Omar Suleiman, but his counterpart in Cairo, Ahmed Aboul Gheit declared that he would not shake Lieberman's hand and that the Israeli minister would not set foot on Egyptian soil if he failed to change his views.
In the past, Lieberman called on Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to "go to hell" if he failed to visit Israel, and recommended bombing the Aswan Dam.
