Egyptian regime is trying to find a way out of its debacle

{Opposition (gun)-Moderate (knife)} by Hussien Al Fara-Al Jazeera.net-Qatar

Egypt Trying to Find Balance Through Anti-Lieberman Stance

by Mohamad Shmaysani, al manar

17/04/2009 The Egyptian regime is embarrassed by Israel’s recent remarks that it provided Cairo with intelligence about the so called “Hezbollah network” in Egypt. Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit has been seeking to establish a sort of balance in the Egyptian stance regarding the assault on Hezbollah and cut the road for any Egyptian and Arab public speculation that would put his country under suspicion of collusion with Israel. According to Israeli analysts and commentators, Abul Gheit’s window was his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman whom he declared persona non grata in Egypt.

Lieberman had insulted President Husni Mubarak and threatened to destroy the High Dam in Aswan, however the Israeli daily Maariv said that after the Israel Beitunu leader assumed the post of Israeli FM, Egypt’s regime turned a blind eye on his offenses; something that establishes a frivolous Israeli handling of Abul Gheit’s position regarding Lieberman.

“The Egyptians are embarrassed and they want to shoot at all directions to cover their assault on Hezbollah. And I want to say that FM Lieberman and I are holding meetings with senior Egyptian officials and I promise that Lieberman will not only visit Egypt but he will receive Egyptian officials in the near future,” MK Dany Ayalon said.

For his part, Eli Shakid, Israel’s former Ambassador to Egypt explained that the Egyptian position on Lieberman was to ease down the Arab popular outrage on the campaign against Hezbollah and to insinuate the Egyptian regime is not colluding with the Jewish state. “The Egyptian pledge to continue working with the Israeli government opens a big window on the track of settlement with Lieberman. Lieberman will set foot in Egypt very soon and the Egyptians are trying to establish some kind of balance in front of the Arab world so that it can face accusations that the Egyptian regime is a US-Israeli agent.”

Israeli observes have revealed that Egypt’s next step, after Hezbollah, will be campaigning against Hamas. Ephraim Kam, deputy head of the Israeli institute for national security studies said that the Egyptian position bore two significant aspects for Israel. “It is necessary that Egypt take radical steps against terror groups that are seeking to attack Israel. It is also in Israel’s interest that an Arab country openly challenges the extremist tripartite Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah and portray them as enemies to Arab moderates,” Kam said. He expressed belief that Egypt will be ready to accept intelligence from Israel against this “axis” in a covert manner given the “sensitivity of cooperating” with Israel that would expose Egypt to Arab criticism.

“Egypt’s next step will be aiming at Hamas and Cairo will give the movement the choice to either be with it or be dealt with as an enemy, like Hezbollah,” Ehud Yaari, an Israeli journalist specializing in Arab affairs, said.

“Mutual interests on the strategic level between us and Egypt are stronger than they used to be two decades ago. We have a mutual enemy that is Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah,” Eli Shakid said.

Israeli observers have warned against showing satisfaction at the ongoing “struggle” between Egypt and Hezbollah, “because eventually the bayonets will be aimed against Israel.”

Suleiman to meet Lieberman during visit to Israel

Friday April 17, 2009 by IMEMC & Agencies

Israeli newspaper Yedioth Aharonoth reported on Friday that Egypt’s Intelligence Chief, Omar Suleiman, will be holding a meeting with the new Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, during his visit to Israel next Wednesday.

This comes after the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Ahmad Abu Al Gheit, said that Egypt will not welcome Lieberman due to his insulting statements against Egypt’s president Hosni Mubarak.

But on Friday Abu Al Gheit said his country will not be boycotting any Israeli minister, including Lieberman.
Egyptian sources reported that Suleiman’s visit to Israel comes to familiarize him with the new Israeli government, to observe Israel’s position regarding the issue of a prisoner-swap deal and the fate of the stalled peace process.

Suleiman’s visit is also meant to prepare for an anticipated meeting between Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Egyptian president, in July.

It is worth mentioning that on Thursday, Abu Al Gheit told the Russia Today TV that Egypt will not deal with Lieberman, and that the country will not welcome him on its soil.

The “conflict” between Lieberman and Egypt stems from last year when Lieberman was addressing the Knesset and said that Mubarak “can go to hell” while commenting on Mubarak’s rejection of a visit to Israel under the current conditions.

Lieberman never withdrew his statements until his speech earlier this month when he took office as Foreign Minister.

He did not actually apologize but said that he would like to visit Egypt and also welcomed Egyptian leaders, including Mubarak, to Israel.

Lieberman also said that Egypt plays an important role in regional stability.

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