Egyptian rioters attack Israeli embassy in Cairo
Photo: EPA
For the first time since the 1979 peace treaty,
the Israeli ambassador to Egypt will not be holding a Passover
seder in the ambassador's residence in Cairo, Yedioth Ahronoth reported.
For 30 years, dozens of guests were invited to take part in a traditional seder dinner at the ambassador's residence including Jewish diplomats and Israeli businessmen.
Homeless
Israel's ambassador to Cairo working from hotel room due to Egyptian refusal to sell, rent out building to Israel
However, since last September when an angry mob stormed the embassy building, the embassy has scaled down its activities.
About a week ago, Israel cleared out its embassy building in Egypt, six months after its offices were attacked and ransacked by protesters, according to Egyptian airport officials.
Two Israeli military planes left Cairo, loaded with documents and equipment removed from the embassy.
The embassy staff has been returning to Israel every weekend for security reasons. Since this year the seder falls on Friday night, embassy officials have decided not to hold it.
Israel's Ambassador to Cairo Yaakov Amitai and his team will instead celebrate the holiday with their families in Israel. However Cairo's small Jewish community will mark the Passover celebrations as they have every year.
Meanwhile, Israel's 100 delegations around the world are hard at work, making final preparations for the Passover seder. In Eritrea's Asmara, only four people will be present during Friday's feast: Ambassador Guy Feldman, the security officer and his wife and Sammy Cohen - the only Jew living in the capitol.