CAIRO: Former Egyptian ambassador to Israel Mohammed Basyouni, 74, died suddenly on Sunday leaving behind him 55 years of military, intelligence, diplomatic and parliamentary service to Egypt. Born in 1937, Basyouni joined the military at 19. He earned a commission as an intelligence officer early in his career, worked at the Egyptian embassy in Tehran as a delegate of the Arab League during the Islamic revolution there, and witnessed the end of the Shah era in 1980. Basyouni played a pivotal role in coordinating the Egyptian-Syrian forces against Israel in the 1973 October war, earning him the Order of Courage from former Syrian president Hafez Al Assad, as well as the Merit of 6th of October from the Commander in Chief of the Syrian Armed Forces. It was in 1982 that Basyouni was first sent to Tel Aviv when Egypt recalled its ambassador, Saad Mortada, in outrage over Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon. Four years later, he was appointed ambassador to Israel and served there until 2000, where he was summoned to Egypt in protest against Israel's brutal crackdown on the Palestinian second intifada. He was appointed member of the Shoura Council by presidential decree and later became Chairman of the Committee of Arab and Foreign Affairs and National Security. In one of the last media statements he made, Basyouni said, "Israel's threats to penetrate Sinai are political and military suicide.” In an interview on Al-Hayah TV channel, he said that the notion of canceling the 1979 peace treaty is not in the interest of either country and that the alternative is to step up security to protect Egypt's borders. Regarding the other hot-button issue of exporting natural gas to Israel, Basyouni believed that halting the deal contradicted the ruling military council's statement confirming its commitment to previously agreed international treaties. "Any corruption related to the gas deal should be handled in court,” he said in an interview on Mehwar TV channel in May. In a recent press interview Basyouni that he fully supports the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, but that this did not mean that Egypt's de facto rulers were above accountability. However, he also expressed pity for the ousted Mubarak. "Trial is justice, but this is torture," he was quoted as saying in the media. The former ambassador's son, Hatem Basyouni, told the Middle East News Agency that his father suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure, but had led “an active life” almost until the day he died.
