After hundreds of Egyptian protesters tore down the security wall to the Israeli embassy in Cairo Friday, the Israeli government decided to withdraw it’s ambassador to Egypt, along with other Embassy staff.After five Egyptian border guards were killed by Israeli forces last month, protesters gathered outside the Israeli consulate in Cairo, and have continued to maintain a presence every day since then.
In order to prevent a repeat of the seizure of the Israeli flag by a protester last month, Egyptian security forces erected a wall outside the Israeli consulate. But on Friday, protestors used hammers and iron bars to remove the barricade and again approach the building.
A protestor again managed to climb to the top of the building and remove the Israeli flag.
The protest at the Israeli consulate followed a rally in Tahrir square in which pro-democracy activists challenged the slow rate of reforms following the takedown of former dictator Hosni Mubarak in February.
During that protest and the subsequent march to the Israeli consulate, an estimated 450 protesters were injured.
US officials urged the Egyptian interim authority to uphold it’s diplomatic duty and protect the Israeli consulate from violence.
After protestors remained surrounding the consulate overnight, burning several cars in the nearby area, the Israeli government made the decision to recall Ambassador Yitzhak Levanon, his family, and most of the embassy staff.
