Egypt rejects invitation to U.S. embassy event in Jerusalem

CAIRO – 10 May 2018: The Egyptian government has declined Israel’s invitation to attend the ceremony of moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported Thursday.

Less than half of foreign diplomats accepted the invitation to the U.S. Embassy event in Jerusalem.

According to Haaretz, some 30 out of the total 86 foreign ambassadors serving in Israel have accepted the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s invitation to the reception marking the U.S. embassy’s move to Jerusalem.

Foreign ambassadors of several states declined the invitation, including Germany, Russia, Poland, Australia, Ireland, Portugal and Sweden.

The ceremony, slated for Sunday night in Jerusalem, will include Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. Ambassador David Friedman, U.S. President Donald Trump's adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner and daughter Ivanka, as well as Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and a delegation of U.S. lawmakers.

"Nothing comes for free," Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Saturday. "And the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem will come at a price and it is worth paying it. We should be prepared to pay a price."

At least three "U.S. Embassy" road signs went up in Jerusalem on Monday ahead of next week's opening of the mission in the city, according to Reuters.

Workers place flags at a road leading to the US consulate in the Jewish neighborhood of Arnona on the East-West Jerusalem line in Jerusalem – EPA-EFF

The signs, written in English, Hebrew and Arabic, were installed by workmen close to the south Jerusalem location of a U.S. consulate building that will be re-purposed as the embassy after being officially relocated on May 14 from Tel Aviv.