Israeli consulate in Alexandria closed

The Egyptian al-Joumhoreyah ( The Republic) newspaper said on Sunday that the Israeli foreign ministry closed its general consulate in the Egyptian coastal city of Alexandria. It said this was due to the unstable economic condition in Israel.

Trade exchange volume and the tourism movement between Egypt and Israel decreased strongly since the eruption of the Palestinian Intifada in the Autumn of 2000, especially following the invasion of the Israeli army of the Palestinian self- rule areas.

Egyptian students and members of the vocational trade unions, repeatedly organized demonstrations during the past months calling for the closure of the consulate. The Israeli embassy in Cairo is still open.