Israel protests not participating in Cairo International Film Festival

The Israeli embassy in Cairo sent formal protest to the Egyptian culture and foreign ministers for Israeli films being barred from participating in the Cairo International Film Festival by the chairman of the festival, Hussein Fahmi.

44 countries from all over the world are participating in the event.

The protest also included not inviting any Israeli movie star to the film market which is held on margin of the festival.

The embassy considered Fahmi's declarations of putting aside the Israeli films a hostility to Israel, in addition to increasing the tensions in Egyptian - Israeli relations.