Egypt named a new ambassador to Israel, in the latest approchement between the two countries following a four-year diplomatic absence over the Jewish state's handling of the Palestinian uprising.
Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said the Israeli government had approved the nomination of Mohammed Asim Ibrahim as Egyptian envoy, which follows the return of Jordan's ambassador to Tel Aviv two days ago.
Ibrahim - Egypt's third envoy to Israel since the two countries signed a peace treaty in 1979 - is a former ambassador to Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya.
Jordan and Egypt, which are the only Arab states to have signed peace treaties with Israel, announced the return of their ambassadors after a Middle East summit in Sharm el-Sheikh earlier this month.
