Israel’s embassy in Egypt on Tuesday evening celebrated the 70th anniversary of the founding of Israel known to the Palestinians as the Nakba for the first time in eight years.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the celebration was held in a hotel in Tahrir Square in central Cairo and it was attended by a group of diplomats businessmen and representatives of the Egyptian government.
Israeli Ambassador to Egypt David Govrin praised the “strong partnership between Israel and Egypt” and welcomed the Arab world’s recent warming toward Israel.
He also said that the recently-signed gas deal with Egypt would serve the interests of both parties and pave the way for further cooperation in other fields.
The celebration raised eyebrows among the Egyptians and was widely condemned by activists and politicians.
Nashwa al-Deeb member of the Egyptian House of Representatives described the Israeli celebration a week before the 70th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba as a “shame”.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Ali Abdel Al during a session held on Tuesday threatened to punish the MPs who attend such celebrations.
MP Tharwat Bakhit member of the Political Bureau of the Egypt Support Coalition said in a press statement that about 100 Egyptian MPs had received invitations to attend the embassy celebration but they refused in protest at the Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people.
These statements coincided with popular Egyptian calls on social media to boycott the Ritz-Carlton hotel for hosting the Israeli ceremony.
