26/05/2010 Under the title "For Israel's sake, let us pray for Mubarak's health," Israeli daily Haaretz said on Wednesday that both US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu understand that Israel's most important ally in the Middle East is Egypt, and they are doing everything possible to keep it that way.
"Of all the world's statesmen, the one closest to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak," the Israeli daily claimed, noting that the two men have met four times since Netanyahu returned to power, "and unlike Obama, Mubarak has no qualms about shaking Netanyahu's hand in public." The Israeli daily quoted a highly placed Israeli source as saying that ties between Tel Aviv and Cairo are much closer than they seem.
According to Haaretz, the wonderful friendship stems from the leaders' shared concerns about Iran. "Netanyahu is anxious about that country's nuclear program, while Mubarak fears the Islamic Republic's potential to undermine his own regime," the Israeli daily claimed, pointing out that Israel and Egypt cooperate to enforce the closure of the Gaza Strip, in order to reduce weapons smuggling and weaken the Hamas government there.
The Israeli daily admitted, meanwhile, that Mubarak, Egypt's longest-serving leader since Mohammad Ali, in the 19th century, is responsible for the stability of relations. "But at 82, his time is running out, and there is no clear successor," it said. "Were Israel's leaders given one wish, they might ask that Mubarak be granted immortality," Haaretz claimed.
Discussing Mubarak's successor remains taboo in Israel, Haaretz went on to say. "But no great imagination is required to understand that after 40 years of quiet on our southern border, Israelis dread "the Iranian scenario" - the rise of an Islamic regime in the world's largest Arab state, just over the border and armed with advanced US weapons. The danger posed by Tehran looks like an innocent joke compared to a hostile Egypt run by the Muslim Brotherhood."
"Obama understands that Egypt is the West's most important bulwark against Iran's rising influence, and is taking steps to bolster the current regime rather than fantasizing about democratization. Netanyahu can only hope that Obama continues this policy. In the meantime, he may wish his dear friend the rais many more healthy years," Haaretz concluded.
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