Egyptian ambassador and Israeli belly dancer

Originally published September 28, 1998

A court in Tel Aviv on Sunday said that the Egyptian ambassador in Tel Aviv, Muhammad Bassiouni, can invoke diplomatic immunity against claims by an Israeli belly dancer who accused him of trying to rape her.

Thereby, Bassiouni will avoid the civil case filed by Shlomit Shalom, calling for US $290,000 in compensation. Shaloum accuses Basyouni of seducing her in August 1997 in the flat of an Israeli doctor, where he allegedly tried to rape her.

Previous Stories

Egyptian ambassador suing Israeli belly dancer 3/12/98
Lawsuits demand closing the Egyptian embassy in Tel Aviv 2/7/98
Belly dancer says Egyptian ambassador attacked her - A case of extortion 10/15/97

Related coverage

Egypt Politics

Egypt renews backing to Morocco's territorial integrity

On April 6, 2026, Hespress reported that committee minutes expressed Egyptian support for Morocco’s territorial integrity. According to the report,…

Updated October 27, 2026 · First published 1999