The newly-appointed Israeli Ambassador Shalom Cohen's visit to Culture Minister Farouk Hosni last week, Nevine El-Aref reports, was the latter's first ever reception of an Israeli top diplomatic envoy since his appointment at the Ministry of Culture in 1978; it took intellectuals, writers and filmmakers by surprise. Taking place in the wake of a Knesset member describing director Amr Arafa's Al-Sifara Fil-Imara (The Embassy in the Building) as an insult to Israel, many thought the purpose of the visit would be to lodge an official complaint against the film. To Hosni's surprise, however, Cohen was visiting to request cultural engagement between the two countries: he hoped the ministry would promote a cultural cooperation programme and exchange visits among intellectuals. According to Cherif El-Choubachi, first undersecretary for foreign cultural relations and director of the Cairo International Film Festival, "Cohen told us that the time was right to pursue cultural relations with Egypt since both countries are witnessing a time of 'warmth' with the peace process on track as Israel prepares to pull out of the Gaza Strip." During the meeting, Cohen introduced a comprehensive cultural agenda comprising, among other events, an Umm Kulthum song recital by an Israeli singer the at Cairo Opera House. During the meeting, El-Choubachi continued, "Cohen asserted that such exchanges would [...] thaw the ice between Egyptian and Israeli intellectuals." Hosni reportedly listened intently , only to decline the request, asserting that such measures would be impossible in the light of Israel's policies in the occupied territories. "I am well aware of how deeply Egyptian intellectuals oppose normalisation until a just and comprehensive peace can be reached," Hosni told Cohen during the meeting. "We have a clear strategy," the minister later declared to Al-Ahram Weekly, adding that "it is not the right moment... Cultural normalisation is a very sensitive issue that must be handled with caution". Culture remains in direct contact with communal feeling, Hosni pointed out. "It is the heart and mind of the nation -- which means cultural normalisation will have greater consequences [than established economic and diplomatic ties with Israel]". Hosni announced that opposition to the idea was based on a general consensus among Egyptian intellectuals and that it was his "duty" to oblige them. "Cultural normalisation is a decision that should be left to Egyptian society and professional syndicates in Egypt are adamant in their rejection of normalisation," the minister asserted. "Culture is a valuable weapon which can be used to serve the Palestinian cause," Hosni told the Weekly, adding that once justice and peace are implemented, Egypt will be willing to "storm Israel with troops of culture". About the film in question, Al-Sifara Fil-Imara, Hosni's response was that Egypt enjoys full cultural and artistic freedom and that "the creative output of intellectuals or artists -- even when they criticise the government -- cannot be silenced".
