Egypt has announced that unlike in past years, this year, Jews will not be permitted to visit the tziyun of Rabbi Yaakov Abuchatzera, the Abir Yaakov. According to an Arab media report, celebrations are no longer permitted at the gravesite as per a court decision; hence the need to bar Jews since the yahrzeit visit is viewed by authorities as a “celebration”.

In actuality, there have been calls from extremist elements such as the Muslim Brotherhood in the past to bar Jews from visiting, but former President Hosni Mubarak did not heed their racist call. In 2009, Minister of the Interior Eli Yishai intervened after Mubarak signaled he was going to halt the visits in response to mounting opposition.

The WAFA agency’s Hebrew site reports the permit for this year has been canceled, adding the new leadership states that the move is also in line with its solidarity with the “Palestinian position” and towards “responding to sensitivities of the Egyptian people”, sending a clear message as to the change in policy in Cairo vis-à-vis Israel.

The change in policy was also most evident in September, when the Israeli Embassy in Cairo was stormed and the current leaders simply did not respond to phone calls from senior Israeli officials, compelling White House involvement towards extricating the diplomatic staff alive.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)