Egyptian Parliament members decided to permit the screening of the film “Al Safara Fil Amara” (The Embassy in the Building), starring comedian actor Adel Imam, despite a request by the Israeli Ambassador to Egypt to ban the film. 
The Israeli Ambassador met with Minister of Culture Farouq Husni to express his opposition to the film and to request permission for an Israeli singer to enter and perform in Egypt.
According to the UAE based daily, Al Bayan, Parliament members submitted an urgent request to the Minister of Interior to forbid the entrance of the Israeli singer, who is said to be a good impersonator of the late Egyptian legend Umm Kalthoum, from entering Egypt.
Imam held a special screening amidst large crowds of fans, journalists, and security officials at his Metro Theatre, which turned into a political protest that led to the closure of the main road for over two hours.
Anti-Israeli slogans were chanted, which had an uncanny resemblance to the events of the film, which depicts Egyptian citizen’s reluctance to accept the peace treaty with Israel.
The film revolves around an Egyptian petrol engineer, who has lived in Dubai for a quarter of a century and finally goes home to Egypt to discover that the Israeli Embassy is located right next door to his apartment. The film for the first time presents a character that plays the role of the Israeli Ambassador.
Adel stressed that the film aims to answer one basic question, which is why Egyptians refused normalization of relations with Israel until now. The film also sends a message to Israel and to other countries with which Egypt has signed a peace agreement, to help them understand the viewpoint of Egyptian citizens.
Imam has denied circulating rumors that he received threats from Israeli extremists demanding he stop the screening of the film.
© 2005 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
