Egypt Tries to Woo Back Saudi Ambassador

Saudi Arabia is reported to be reconsidering the choice to recall its ambassador to Egypt, after leaders in Cairo worked to heal a rift between the Arab neighbors. The Saudis closed their mission in Egypt following anti-Saudi protests there.

Egypt's de-facto leader, Field Marshall Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, reached out to officials in Saudi Arabia in an attempt “to contain the placement.” Egyptian state media said he began efforts to heal the rift within hours of the Saudi decision Saturday to bring its ambassador back home.

Protesters had besieged the embassy in Cairo and other Saudi missions around Egypt for several days last week, protesting the detention of Egyptian human-rights lawyer Ahmed el-Gezawi. His supporters say he's being held in retaliation for a lawsuit he filed against the Saudi monarchy over the treatment of Egyptian workers within the kingdom.  

Saudi officials counter that Gezawi was seeking to smuggle in vast quantities of a banned anti-anxiety medication.

Mounting tensions

The diplomatic rift is the worst in decades between two of probably the most influential Arab nations, and caught many average Egyptians without warning. Student Mohamed Sami believes the Saudis overreacted.

He says in place of recalling their ambassador, the Saudis may have sent an army attache or other officials out to calm the location. He says closing the embassy was wrong.

Tensions between Cairo and Riyadh were mounting for greater than a year. Saudi Arabia was shaken by the autumn of its longtime ally, former president Hosni Mubarak, and is alleged to have tied much-needed aid to his release from prison. The stress have been compounded by the increase of Egypt's Islamist forces, whose partnership could prove far less reliable.

‘Reactionary decision'

But political analyst and Al Ahram managing editor Amira Howeidi says the embassy closure was a “reactionary decision.”  

“I don't think it's a political and strategic decision.  It really is basically based on the protests in Egypt and a response message to the Egyptian revolution, but not a subject matter that may harm or damage Saudi relations, that are very deep.”

Howeidi notes how quickly the Egyptian Cabinet issued a press release expressing regret over the protests.

Many Egyptians say they trust that statement. Retired doctor, Tari Naguib, appears uninterested in the near constant rounds of protests which have roiled Egypt because the uprising.  

She says nowadays people exit to chant and protest anything, with the loudest voice dominating. She says she prays calmer forces will soon regain control.

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From WhatNewsToday.net

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