Egypt cancelled the inauguration of a restored synagogue on Sunday citing objections to Israel's treatment of Muslims in the occupied territories as well as alleged excesses during an earlier ceremony.
Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities spent seven months restoring the ruined Ben Maimon synagogue in Cairo's ancient Jewish quarter and had been set to unveil it to the press Sunday, a week after its rededication in a private ceremony.
Council head Zahi Hawass called off Sunday's event following criticism in the press of the synagogue's rededication ceremony, which was attended by Israeli diplomats as well the American ambassador. The cancellation was largely symbolic as the restoration is complete and the synagogue has been reopened.
``This cancellation comes after what happened during the inauguration by the Jewish community who engaged in activities considered provocative to the feelings of millions of Muslims around world, including dancing and drinking alcohol,' Hawass said in the statement.
He added that ``Muslim sanctuaries in occupied Palestine are subject to aggression by the occupation authorities,' citing in particular Israeli security actions on the Temple Mount, known as the Aqsa compound to Muslims, in Jerusalem.
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