Israeli ambassador to Egypt, Yaakov Amitai, left Egypt on Thursday, reportedly in anticipation of the first anniversary of the January 25 Revolution that led to the ouster of longtime dictator Hosni Mubarak.
The Israeli government fears that the anniversary may be used by Egyptian demonstrators to incite violence against the Israeli embassy in Cairo.
Demonstrators stormed the embassy in September 2011, causing no injuries but leaving Israeli diplomats unsettled and insecure.
Sources told the Egyptian Ahram Online that Amitai would probably return to Cairo in late January if the anniversary passes without incident.