Emergency in Egypt; Israel slams attack

Egypt's ruling military council declared a state of emergency to restore order after protesters attacked the Israeli embassy in Cairo. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his nation last night that the incident had damaged "the fabric of peace" between the two countries while declaring his commitment to the 32-year alliance.

Egyptian commandos rescued embassy security personnel, and civil security forces dispersed protesters gathered outside the embassy for a second day. One person outside the embassy died of a heart attack and 448 people were injured in both incidents, Egypt's state-run Nile News said. At least two people died in the embassy protests, the BBC reported, citing unidentified officials.

"The fact that the Egyptian authorities acted decisively to bring about the release of our people is commendable and deserves thanks," Netanyahu said in a televised address from his office in Jerusalem. "At the same time, the Egyptians cannot ignore the heavy damage done to the fabric of peace with Israel and this extreme violation of international norms."

President Barack Obama called on Egypt's government "to honor its international obligations to safeguard the security of the Israeli embassy," the White House said in a statement. Egypt's state television reported that the Israeli ambassador went to the Cairo airport to return to Israel.

Since the February ouster of Hosni Mubarak, an ally of the United States and Israel, there have been increasing calls by many Egyptians for ending the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. Tensions between the countries escalated as violence on their border flared in August, when militants opened fire on cars and buses near the southern Israeli city of Eilat. At least three Egyptian police officers died in the ensuing Israeli military response.

Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf called a cabinet crisis group meeting after the incident at the embassy, state television reported. In a televised address , Information Minister Osama Heikal said the government would apply "all provisions" of emergency law to ensure safety, Agence France-Presse reported.

At least 17 people linked to the embassy incident have been arrested, Al-Jazeera television reported, citing an unidentified security official.