Israel names new ambassador to Egypt

The Foreign Ministry on Sunday named Haim Koren as Israel’s next ambassador to Egypt.

Koren is expected to replace the current ambassador to Egypt, Yaakov Amitai, some time next year.

A ministry spokesman told The Times of Israel that before Koren takes up his post, a permanent location must be found for Israel’s embassy in Cairo.

The former embassy building was ransacked in 2011 by an Egyptian mob and the staff were evacuated from the country.

Some embassy staff returned to Cairo in 2012 and began providing services from an unofficial location.

In the unrest that followed the ouster of former Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi in July, Israel reduced the number of its diplomatic staff posted to Cairo, but has begun building up its presence in the city more recently in light of the recent calm.

Koren is an Arabic speaker who in the past was director of the Cairo embassy’s political planning division.