Israeli envoy flees after embassy in Cairo is attacked

[jaxx]

CAIRO — Israel flew its ambassador home on Saturday after protesters stormed the building housing its embassy in Cairo, plunging Egypt's ruling army deeper into its worst diplomatic crisis since it took over from Hosni Mubarak.

The United States, which has poured billions of dollars of military aid into Egypt since Cairo made peace with Israel in 1979, urged Egypt to protect the embassy after protesters hurled embassy documents and the Israeli flag from windows.

"Our dignity has been restored," said Mohi Alaa, 24, who protested overnight and was speaking near the site of the clashes, where bits of concrete and bullet casings were strewn over the street.

"We don't want the Americans' money," he said, reflecting a growing readiness among many Egyptians to express anger and frustration with Israel and its treatment of the Palestinians after decades of pragmatic official relations.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44464518/ns/...mt-uux5p7k

[nofurylike]

By Ami Eden
September 10, 2011

http://blogs.jta.org/politics/article/20...uthorities

would like to express my gratitude to the President of the United States, Barack Obama.

I asked for his help. This was a decisive and fateful moment. He said, “I will do everything I can.” And so he did. He used every considerable means and influence of the United States to help us. We owe him a special measure of gratitude. This attests to the strong alliance between Israel and the United States. This alliance between Israel and the United States is especially important in these times of political storms and upheavals in the Middle East. I wish to cite also the intervention of the Egyptian Commandos which prevented a tragedy. We maintained direct channels of communication throughout the night with the Egyptian government. It was clear to all that the defense of an Embassy, and particularly the Israeli Embassy, is the obligation of any sovereign state.

I therefore also appreciate the words of the Egyptian Information Minister who condemned the attack on the Israeli Embassy in Cairo. Many world leaders and Arab leaders joined him in this sentiment. I attach great importance to this. Israel will continue to adhere to the peace treaty with Egypt. We are working together with the Egyptian government to quickly return our Ambassador to Cairo.

-snip-

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[nofurylike]

thank you for posting that, jaxx.

[jaxx]

Israel evacuates embassy in Jordan ahead of protests

updated 9/14/2011 6:33:12 PM ET

Israel was evacuating its embassy in Jordan on Wednesday in advance of a demonstration promoted on Facebook under a banner "No Zionist embassy on Jordanian territory," The Jerusalem Post reported without citing sources.

<..> Elsewhere in Amman, demonstrators demanded the closing of the U.S. Embassy in Jordan over WikiLeaks cables suggesting covert U.S. plans to turn Jordan into a home for Palestinians.

<..> The 70 activists burned American and Israeli flags in a noisy protest opposite the embassy in Amman on Wednesday.

<..> Roughly half of the country's 6 million population is of Palestinian origin. With Palestinian-Israeli peace talks stalled, some Jordanians fear Israel may try to deport Palestinians to Jordan.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44525743/ns/...nFftOx5p7k

Well gee whiz what else can boil over?

[Willinois]

Interesting. It's clear what some people mean when they claim the "stability" of dictators may be preferable to democratic revolutions in the Middle East. One of their fears is that the new governments will be hostile to Israel.

It's a tragic irony that in the name of protecting democracy in one nation, the U.S. has propped up dictators in others.