Israel was watching Egyptian ex-President Hosni Mubarak’s ouster anxiously on Friday, with the government declined comment on the event, and officials were concerned over the fate of the “peace” treaty signed between Egypt and the Zionist entity.
Israeli officials expressed concern that regime change in Egypt, as part of a wider transformation of the Arab world, could leave Israel even more isolated. Last year, regional powerhouse Turkey shifted away from its alliance with Israel.
"We have a tough period ahead of us," Zvi Mazel, a former ambassador in Egypt, told Israel TV. "Iran and Turkey will consolidate positions against us. Forget about the former Egypt. Now it's a completely new reality, and it won't be easy."
Some in Israel feared the unrest could spread to neighboring Jordan, the only other Arab country that has a peace deal with Israel, or to the Palestinian territories.
Former defense minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer who was a long-time “friend” of Mubarak, said he was worried.
"From this day on, I only have lots of questions about what will be, what will be the fate of the peace treaty between us and the Egyptians?" Ben-Eliezer told Israel TV's Channel 10. "There are many questions that we don't have answers for, how will this affect the entire region now?"
Dan Gillerman, a former envoy at the UN, said that if “radicals” prevail in Egypt and elsewhere, it would be devastating for Israel and the region.
"At the end of the day what we are seeing in the Middle East is a battle between the moderates and the extremists and I think it is in everybody's interests that the moderates prevail," he told Fox News.
Military sources said on condition of anonymity they were worried that if a peace treaty isn't kept, the military would have to reassess its deployment.
These sources also feared that Muslim Brotherhood could affect the power struggle between the two Palestinian political camps — Hamas and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Israeli officials expressed concern that regime change in Egypt, as part of a wider transformation of the Arab world, could leave Israel even more isolated. Last year, regional powerhouse Turkey shifted away from its alliance with Israel.
"We have a tough period ahead of us," Zvi Mazel, a former ambassador in Egypt, told Israel TV. "Iran and Turkey will consolidate positions against us. Forget about the former Egypt. Now it's a completely new reality, and it won't be easy."
Some in Israel feared the unrest could spread to neighboring Jordan, the only other Arab country that has a peace deal with Israel, or to the Palestinian territories.
Former defense minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer who was a long-time “friend” of Mubarak, said he was worried.
"From this day on, I only have lots of questions about what will be, what will be the fate of the peace treaty between us and the Egyptians?" Ben-Eliezer told Israel TV's Channel 10. "There are many questions that we don't have answers for, how will this affect the entire region now?"
Dan Gillerman, a former envoy at the UN, said that if “radicals” prevail in Egypt and elsewhere, it would be devastating for Israel and the region.
"At the end of the day what we are seeing in the Middle East is a battle between the moderates and the extremists and I think it is in everybody's interests that the moderates prevail," he told Fox News.
Military sources said on condition of anonymity they were worried that if a peace treaty isn't kept, the military would have to reassess its deployment.
These sources also feared that Muslim Brotherhood could affect the power struggle between the two Palestinian political camps — Hamas and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Abbas is backed by the West, while Hamas is the Gaza branch of the Muslim brotherhood and could gain strength if their Egyptian brethren win a greater say.
MULLEN TO VISIT JORDAN, ISRAEL
On the other hand, the top United States military officer heads to Jordan and Israel next week for high-level talks meant to reassure key allies.
On the other hand, the top United States military officer heads to Jordan and Israel next week for high-level talks meant to reassure key allies.Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, will arrive in Jordan on Sunday for talks with his military counterpart and with Jordan's King Abdullah.
Mullen will continue to Israel, and he is due to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres and the outgoing head of the armed forces, Lieutenant-General Gabi Ashkenazi on Sunday and Monday, before returning to Washington.
"At this very critical time in the Middle East [Mullen wants] to reassure our Israeli partners that our commitment to them, and to the military relationship that we have enjoyed with them, remains strong," Capt. John Kirby, an aide to Mullen, told Reuters.
US and “Israel” in Trouble?
Nour Rida
The White Big Elephant was in the room, he just did not see it, or actually never wanted to see it. The Egyptian ousted President Husni Mubarak, after three decades of causing and ignoring the sufferings of millions of Egyptians finally decided to step down.
Nour Rida
The White Big Elephant was in the room, he just did not see it, or actually never wanted to see it. The Egyptian ousted President Husni Mubarak, after three decades of causing and ignoring the sufferings of millions of Egyptians finally decided to step down.
The world celebrated on the Freedom Friday, Egypt was vivid and victorious. But as expected "Israel" and a few of its supporters worried on an issue, to them of critical importance: Will the evolving new government continue to honor the 1979 treaty with "Israel"?
Mubarak maintained a cold peace with "Israel" and helped isolate the Gaza Strip; these were certainties and now face challenge.
For the Egyptians, the three decades encompassed years of oppression, corruption and poverty; but for the U.S., Mubarak was an anchor of stability at the helm of the world's largest Arab nation, enforcing a peace treaty with "Israel" and protecting vital U.S. interests, but today might be a new day to Egypt, and the staring of an end to "Israel".
The US was the first to voice concern over the stability of "Israel". The White House on Friday called on the new authorities in Egypt to honor existing peace agreements with "Israel" after the stepping down of Husni Mubarak.
"It is important the next government of Egypt recognize the accords that have been signed with the government of "Israel"," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement.
Also, Ray Takeyh of the US Council on Foreign Relations, he said that the Arab-"Israeli" peace process and the integration of "Israel" into the regional order could be a "casualty" of the democratic epoch.
On his part, Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Friday he hoped a new Egypt will respect old peace treaties following President Hosni Mubarak's departure. "We hope that the change to democracy in Egypt will happen without violence and that the peace accord will remain," sources reported an official saying.
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| From El nido del cuco |
Also, Zvi Mazel, a former "Israeli" ambassador to Egypt. "As long as we had Mubarak, there was no void in our relations with the region. Now we're in big trouble."
"From this day on, I only have lots of questions about what will be, what will be the fate of the peace treaty between us and the Egyptians? And how will this affect the entire region?" former "Israeli" war Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer told an "Israeli" TV channel.
Amid the joy of the people around the world in the victory of the White revolution, the US and "Israel" fear the loss after its staunchest Arab ally and the coming of a new government, a new regime that would consider annulling a peace treaty, breaking the Gaza siege or even less than all that, slightly harming the US-"Israeli" interests in the region.
Ex-ambassador to Egypt: Israel in strategic crisis after Mubarak's downfall
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
The world trembles in awe at the righteous furry echoing from Tahrir Square.
ReplyDeleteAs'ad Abukahlil put is nicely yesterday,
***The entire country and its dyamics are now unleashed on the world. There will be new ideas and new current and trends. Certainly, the freer the Arabs are, the more trouble for the US/Israel/Saudi Arabia.***