Israel tries to mend ties with Egypt

JERUSALEM - Israeli officials called on Sunday for relations with Egypt to return to normal despite Friday's attack by a mob on the Israeli embassy in Cairo.

"We shall do everything in order that relations between the two countries will return to normal," Environment Minister Gilad Erdan, considered close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told public radio.

"In this case the Egyptian authorities acted as they should," he said, referring to the rescue by Egyptian commandos of six Israeli security guards besieged in the embassy building for several hours on Friday night by angry protesters.