Egypt scraps synagogue ceremony after ‘provocative’ acts
Egypt cancelled the formal opening on Sunday of a renovated 19th-century synagogue in Cairo in protest at what antiquities chief Zahi Hawass called “provocative” Jewish and Israeli actions.
Both Hawass and Culture Minister Faruq Hosni had been due to attend the event a week to the day after 150 people, including rabbis and the US and Israeli ambassadors, attended the rededication of the Maimonides synagogue.
Citing press reports, Hawass said in a statement that the cancellation comes after “provocative” acts during the March 7 ceremony in Cairo’s ancient Jewish quarter.