Israel's new Egypt envoy presents credentials to el-Sissi

David Govrin, Israel's new ambassador to Egypt, presented his credentials Wednesday to President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in Cairo as the Egyptian military band played the Israeli national anthem,

Govrin was one of eight international ambassadors who presented their credentials at the Ittihadiya Presidential Palace in Cairo. The other new envoys were from Greece, the United Arab Emirates, Somalia, Mexico, Myanmar, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Govrin said it was an exceptionally exciting event: "After the band finished playing the Israeli anthem, I was led to the palace's reception room, where I introduced myself to the Egyptian president and handed him my letter of credence, signed by President Reuven Rivlin.

"In a brief conversation I had with him in Arabic, he asked about my personal background and I told him, among other things, about my early acquaintance with Egypt as a diplomat in Cairo as well as my academic education in Middle Eastern studies."

The new ambassador is an experienced diplomat, who until recently served as the director of the Jordan and North Africa Department in the Foreign Ministry. Govrin is from Jerusalem and is fluent in Arabic. His first foreign posting was to Cairo, serving as first secretary in Israel's embassy from 1994 to 1997.

Govrin further said, "El-Sissi shook my hand amicably and stressed the importance of reviving relations with Israel. I told him that he can consider me a fellow countryman, and he replied that he will do so."

In September 2011, Israel shuttered its Cairo embassy after it was raided by an Egyptian mob. It was reopened last September.

Egyptian media reports about the Israeli ambassador's appointment were sparse, but still highlighted the fact that for the first time in four years, the Israeli embassy was fully staffed with an official ambassador.

　

　

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