Egyptian parliamentarians vote to throw out a fellow lawmaker for meeting with the Israeli ambassador to Cairo, according to Egyptian media reports.
Tawfiq Okasha, a popular TV talk show host and parliament member, has been engulfed in controversy since Thursday when Israeli ambassador Haim Korem posted a picture on the embassy’s Facebook page of the two of them meeting the evening before.
Two thirds of the parliament reportedly vote in favor of throwing out Oskasha. The move comes after the parliament decided on Sunday to form a special committee to investigate Okasha’s visit. One lawmaker threw a shoe at Okasha during Sunday’s session.
Egyptian television host and parliament member Tawfiq Okasha (YouTube screen capture)
Egypt has full diplomatic relations with Israel, but directly dealing with the Jewish state remains deeply taboo in Egyptian society.
Okasha, who has been previously described by state-run media as “controversial,” publicly — during a broadcast — invited Haim Koren to his house for dinner. Koren agreed, and the two met last Wednesday at Okasha’s home and discussed politics, trade and agricultural cooperation between the countries.
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Wednesday, March 2, 2016
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