{"record":{"aliases":["Ashraf Abd al-Latif Ghorbal","أشرف غربال"],"appointmentIds":["egypt-6c55e77b2b20aa","egypt-9337768f02c237"],"appointmentsDataset":"https://chanceries.org/diplomats.json","archivalSources":["ghorbal1992"],"canonicalUrl":"https://chanceries.org/diplopedia/people/ashraf-ghorbal-d34fb37e67/","countrySlug":"egypt","entityId":"https://chanceries.org/diplopedia/people/ashraf-ghorbal-d34fb37e67/#person","eventIds":["egypt-relations-restored-1974"],"expandedParagraphs":["Ashraf Ghorbal studied economics and political science in Cairo, entered the diplomatic service, and completed an MA and doctorate at Harvard in 1948 and 1949. In his later oral history, he described the American friendships formed during those years as useful when he returned to Washington as a diplomat.","Ghorbal headed Egypt’s interests section in Washington from January 1968 to July 1972, working under the protection of India’s embassy while formal Egyptian-American relations were broken. He pressed for Israeli withdrawal and a political settlement, and questioned American arms supplies to Israel during talks with Joseph Sisco. Returning to Cairo, he became a deputy to the national security adviser and then President Anwar Sadat’s press adviser.","After relations were restored, Ghorbal returned as ambassador and presented credentials in April 1974. His second Washington assignment lasted until 1984. He retired from Egypt’s diplomatic service the following year."],"id":"egypt:ashraf ghorbal","identifiers":{},"legacyPersonIds":[],"legacyUrl":"https://chanceries.org/diplomat-d34fb37e6727fb7fe2c4.html","name":"Ashraf Abdel-Latif Ghorbal","notes":[],"paragraphSources":[["ghorbal-oral"],["ghorbal-oral","ghorbal1968","ghorbal1972"],["protocol","ghorbal1992","ghorbal-oral"]],"profileUrl":"diplomat-d34fb37e6727fb7fe2c4.html","relatedEvents":[{"basis":"documented-participant","country":"Egypt","date":"1974-02-28","description":"Egypt and the United States restore diplomatic relations after nearly seven years. Negotiations separating Egyptian and Israeli forces lead into a wider program of economic and cultural cooperation.","id":"egypt-relations-restored-1974","note":"Ghorbal presented credentials to Nixon on19April1974, as documented in the presidential memorandum.","sourceUrls":["https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v26/d27","https://history.state.gov/milestones/1969-1976/shuttle-diplomacy","https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/exchange-remarks-receiving-diplomatic-credentials-from-the-egyptian-ambassador","https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/text-the-principles-relations-and-cooperation-between-egypt-and-the-united-states"],"title":"Egypt and America restore relations","url":"Egypt.html#history-egypt-relations-restored-1974"}],"relatedPeople":[],"relationships":[],"researchStatus":"reviewed","reviewedOn":"2026-10-29","revision":"4647d60b5b2cb4ac","sources":[{"accessedOn":"2026-10-29","date":null,"id":"ghorbal-oral","locator":"pp.1 and 12–13","publisher":"United Nations Oral History Project, Yale University; University of Ghana repository","title":"Oral history interview with Ashraf Ghorbal","type":"oral-history","url":"https://ugspace.ug.edu.gh/bitstreams/1d1cc5e7-0dc8-459e-80c8-b0a0a2e8c85e/download"},{"accessedOn":"2026-10-29","date":"1968-01-12","id":"ghorbal1968","locator":"January 12, 1968; newly arrived Ashraf Ghorbal","publisher":"Office of the Historian, U.S. Department of State","title":"Memorandum of Conversation","type":"primary-record","url":"https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v20/d45"},{"accessedOn":"2026-10-29","date":"1972-01-20","id":"ghorbal1972","locator":"January 20, 1972; Ghorbal and Sisco","publisher":"Office of the Historian, U.S. Department of State","title":"Memorandum of Conversation","type":"primary-record","url":"https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v23/d275"},{"accessedOn":"2026-10-29","date":null,"id":"protocol","locator":"Chronological list, 1924–2015","publisher":"U.S. Department of State, Office of the Chief of Protocol","title":"Diplomatic Representation for Egypt, Arab Republic of (formerly United Arab Republic)","type":"primary-record","url":"https://2009-2017.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/93806.htm"},{"accessedOn":"2026-10-29","date":"1992-11-09","id":"ghorbal1992","locator":"Interview listing, November 9, 1992","publisher":"Center for Israel Education","title":"Ken Stein Interview With Ashraf Ghorbal, Cairo, Egypt","type":"archive-catalogue","url":"https://israeled.org/topic/jimmy-carter/page/2/"}],"topics":["interests section","peace negotiations","Sadat"]},"schemaVersion":1}
