Ashraf joined the MFO in 1988 as a Language and Cultural Instructor at our Force Headquarters in North Sinai. In 1990 he was promoted to Egyptian Advisor to Force Commander LTG Van Ginkel of the Netherlands. In 1993 he transferred to our Cairo Office as a Liaison Officer, later becoming Senior Liaison and Security Officer. In that capacity, Ashraf was our lead coordinator in Cairo with the Egyptian Liaison Office on a range of MFO activities, including aviation, troop rotations, official visitors, logistics, and cross border cooperation with Israel.  He was essential in facilitating the success of the MFO and resolving the inevitable issues that arise in the day-to-day accomplishment of our mission.  He ably advised and assisted five successive Director General’s Representatives in Cairo and was a key resource for colleagues in our Cairo and Tel Aviv offices, camps in Sinai, and Rome Headquarters, helping others to understand all aspects of any challenge and how to overcome them.  The high esteem in which he was held by both Egyptian and Israeli liaison counterparts, as well as MFO colleagues, contributed enormously to gaining the trust, flexibility, and compromise needed to successfully carry out our mission in the face of many challenges, including the current COVID pandemic. 

Prior to joining the MFO, Ashraf earned degrees in Social and Psycho Linguistics and in History and Architecture. He then served with Egypt’s Liaison Agency with International Organizations at all three of its field offices: Rafah, Taba, and Sharm el Sheikh. His time at Taba coincided with the Egyptian and Israeli arbitration over the border markers there.

Ashraf’s positive attitude, engaging personality, and perseverance and resourcefulness when faced with challenges were to his credit and a great benefit to his MFO colleagues. The whole MFO family shares its condolences with his wife and children. 

To honor Ashraf’s long and constructive service, he is being posthumously awarded the Director General’s Medal for his many contributions to peace between Egypt and Israel.