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Last update - 09:57 26/02/2008 Why lose Egypt? By Nazir Majali Tags: egypt, israel, tzipi livni For several months now, the media has been reporting that Israel is angry at Egypt's behavior. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who is responsible for strengthening Israel's ties with the rest of the world, launched this trend in December. The rightist opposition continued it, from MK Yuval Steinitz to former minister Avigdor Lieberman. After Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak announced that red lines had been crossed and Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit threatened that Egypt could have a negative influence on Israel's interests, Israeli officials ceased speaking on the record, but continued to attack Egypt anonymously, via unnamed "government officials." The obvious question is, what would Israel gain by destroying its relationship with Egypt, of all countries, and now, of all times, when Egypt is mediating the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit? Has Israel stopped seeing the largest Arab state as a partner that could effect change in the Middle East and lead it in the direction of a comprehensive peace and a historic reconciliation? Does Israel intend from now on to rely on the emirate of Qatar rather than Egypt? Advertisement The grievance against Egypt, as formulated by Livni, is that its efforts to stop arms smuggling across its border with Gaza are "terrible, problematic and impair the ability to advance the peace process." Others have reiterated the old cliche about a "cold peace." Anyone who peruses government documents will discover numerous studies "proving" that Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel not out of an ideological commitment to peace, but solely for reasons of self-interest. Therefore, Egypt is considered suspect, and woe to the prime minister who does not toe the line of this paradigm that Jewish "experts" have brought to Arab affairs. The truth so far from these conclusions is that they raise questions, and even suspicions, as to whether someone has an interest in burning the bridge that Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin built between their countries. Egypt indeed conducts its policies in accordance with its own interests as an independent state, and Israel cannot dictate its behavior. The Israeli government may well be opposed to these policies, and it is free to criticize them. But to give them a grade of "terrible" and accuse Egypt of hindering the peace process, even when it knows full well that this will elicit a less than positive response - that is astounding. Moreover, these criticisms are wrong. The Egyptians, even with their inadequate forces, have seized tons of weapons and explosives before they were even transferred into Sinai. They have discovered and blown up tunnels between Egyptian Rafah and Palestinian Rafah and arrested dozens of people in Sinai who were suspected of hostile activity against Israel. Egypt itself has been a victim of many terrorist attacks that have exacted a heavy toll. It therefore has a supreme interest in fighting terror. The fact that it is a large Arab country, inhabited by millions of people who see Israel as an occupier that oppresses the Palestinian people (which is also how many Israelis and Western leaders see it), compels Egypt to act cautiously and wisely in order not to undermine the main battle, against terrorism. Even if this is inconvenient for Israel, it is wrong to hurl accusations at Egypt. It is always vital to remember the essential point, which is that since the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty was signed in 1979, Israel's situation has changed for the better. Peace brought an end to the total war Israel had previously waged against the entire Arab world. Since the treaty was signed, and to a large extent because of it, some 80 additional countries worldwide have recognized Israel. It has signed a peace treaty with Jordan, and the way has been paved for peace with the Palestinians. This "cold peace" has survived many difficult events, such as Sadat's assassination, the first and second Lebanon wars, and the first and second intifadas. Does it really pay for Israel to sacrifice this peace on the altar for a war of words? The author is an Israeli affairs analyst for Arab television stations and the newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat. Bookmark to del.icio.us   A second chance Parents shocked to see their baby breathing moments before she was to be buried. Kafka the Zionist Remnants of Kafka's estate found in T.A. raise questions of his belief in Zionism.   1.   It is either this or that 10:06  |  Khalil Ishabib 26/02/08   2.   to attend to buy arabs in arabic bazaar 10:11  |  atilla karagözoğlu 26/02/08   3.   israels main policy is to buy ! 10:12  |  atilla karagözoğlu 26/02/08   4.   where the money comes from ? 10:12  |  atilla karagözoğlu 26/02/08   5.   Why is Egypt destroying its Israeli ties? 10:13  |  ME Observer 26/02/08   6.   why its so easy to buy a human ? 10:13  |  atilla karagözoğlu 26/02/08   7.   why the arabs sells his brothers for israel ? 10:14  |  atilla karagözoğlu 26/02/08   8.   why arabs are not in unity ? 10:14  |  atilla karagözoğlu 26/02/08   9.   arabic brotherhood or islamic brotherhood is a must ? 10:15  |  atilla karagözoğlu 26/02/08   10.   what are the weak points of arabic world ? 10:16  |  atilla karagözoğlu 26/02/08   11.   Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is a weak politician 10:22  |  atilla karagözoğlu 26/02/08   12.   the peace treaty was a carter error 10:25  |  v hardman 26/02/08   13.   WHY ISRAEL DONT RECOGNISE KOSOVA, YET ? 10:38  |  ... 26/02/08   14.   KOSOVANS GOT GREAT BIG HOLOCAUST BY THE SERBS 10:40  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 26/02/08   15.   AMERICA IS READY TO DIE FOR KOSOVA ! WHY NOT ISRAEL TOO ? 10:40  |  ... 26/02/08   16.   I WANT ISRAEL RECOGNISE KOSOVA NOW ! 10:41  |  ... 26/02/08   17.   ISRAEL OWE ISLAM WORLD TO RECOGNISE KOSOVA ... 10:42  |  ... 26/02/08   18.   RUSSIA ! BECOMING BIGGER EACH DAY ! ISRAEL TAKE YOUR SIDE ... 10:44  |  ... 26/02/08   19.   IF ISRAEL IS GREAT DEMOCRACY ! MUST RECOGNISE KOSOVA 10:45  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 26/02/08   20.   PEACE WITH EGYPT 10:48  |  Menachem 26/02/08   21.   Typical Arab is Mr. Najali 11:01  |  spade 26/02/08   22.   Haaretz!!! Your talkback is destroyed by this Attila abomination 11:02  |  S 26/02/08   23.   # khalil 11:12  |  danny 26/02/08   24.   Ya Atilla, Nr. 2,3,4,6,7,8,9,0,11,13,14 11:18  |  MR 26/02/08   25.   attilla 11:18  |  danny 26/02/08   26.   Nazir Majali, I see that you didn`t get the memo. 11:39  |  Judith, Haifa 26/02/08   27.   I see some miracles on Atilla`s soul 12:05  |  Rabbi Moshe A. 26/02/08   28.   attila has .with a circulation of 1 12:12  |  danny 26/02/08   29.   Aritstic Peace 12:15  |  FOX 26/02/08   30.   NAZIR MAJALI It takes 2 to tango.Egyptian racist TV does NOT help 12:20  |  PETER SM 26/02/08   31.   THe problem of the led, not leaders! 12:22  |  Sharif Hafez 26/02/08   32.   Atilla talks ! The readers walks :) 12:34  |  ... 26/02/08   33.   I AM A PART OF HAARETZ ! THIS WONT CHANGE 12:52  |  ... 26/02/08   34.   Egypt and Israel. 13:20  |  Stephen. 26/02/08   35.   to israelis 13:47  |  Omar 26/02/08   36.   #21 Spade - Duh of course most Egyptians 14:04  |  spyguy 26/02/08   37.   It is against ideology 14:10  |  Mark Lincoln 26/02/08   38.   To 26, Omar- Fortunately, We Needn`t Argue 14:32  |  dyinglikeflies 26/02/08   39.   Menachem`s vile 14:35  |  Witnesses 26/02/08   40.   # 26omar 14:43  |  danny 26/02/08   41.   What Motivates Israel?? 14:45  |  Yaakov Sullivan 26/02/08   42.   been smoking, see visions. saw many gods 14:50  |  triska 26/02/08   43.   What Motivates Isrsael?? Part II 14:52  |  Yaakov Sullivan 26/02/08   44.   to dyinglikeflies 15:15  |  Omar 26/02/08   45.   ideological commitment to peace vs. country`s self-interest 15:24  |  Boris 26/02/08   46.   Peter SM on Egypt as the Culprit 15:42  |  Yaakov Sullivan 26/02/08   47.   Put it down to pure arrogance on Israel`s part. Nazir 15:55  |  Clickfool 26/02/08   48.   And What Was Egypt Responding To, Judith? 15:57  |  Yaakov Sullivan 26/02/08   49.   EGYPT NO. 1 ENEMY SENDING IN TERROR ARMS 15:59  |  John the Gentile 26/02/08   50.   They have a Masada complex, that`s all! 16:22  |  ballistic 26/02/08   51.   EGYPT KILLS AFRICANS FOR ISRAEL 16:42  |  JOHN ISH ISHMAEL 26/02/08   52.   The Way I see things... 16:50  |  Ahmose The Egyptian 26/02/08   53.   jaakov # 41 your a hell of a lot better than israel is at hurling 17:01  |  terrornator 26/02/08   54.   Moron, Attilla, Israel "owes" the Islamic world? For what?! 17:25  |  McQueen 26/02/08   55.   It hurts to have to agree, time and again, with critics of Israel 17:34  |  S 26/02/08   56.   Since Genesis! 18:11  |  Paul 26/02/08   57.   ENOUGH RELATION WITH ISRAEL 18:38  |  indrajaya 26/02/08   58.   Egypt`s "cold peace" cheating has soured future peace moves 18:40  |  Dr. L. Brnd 26/02/08   59.   For Dr L.Brnd 18:56  |  Clickfool 26/02/08   60.   #53 terronator re Jaakov Sullivan 19:28  |  Labhras 26/02/08   61.   Dr. L. Brnd 19:28  |  Ahmose The Egyptian 26/02/08   62.   sensible article - but wasted words 19:30  |  flimflam 26/02/08   63.   Even Begin 19:45  |  Mark Lincoln 26/02/08   64.   #59 Clickfool 19:59  |  tbora 26/02/08   65.   Who else is there to blame, only Israel and US! 20:10  |  Tosefta 26/02/08   66.   false egypt is doing all it can to weaken israel and our ties 20:26  |  ralph 26/02/08   67.   you are just spin nothing more 20:26  |  ralph 26/02/08   68.   Funny sitrep! 20:59  |  Paul 26/02/08   69.   The US and Israel! 21:00  |  Paul 26/02/08   70.   Sorry, come again? 21:45  |  The Northern Wind 26/02/08   71.   Maybe it`s all the anti-semitic statements from Egypt 22:33  |  Gee 26/02/08   72.   We are in peace not in love 22:40  |  Sima 26/02/08   73.   Israel violated its treaty with Egypt 23:26  |  BIG 26/02/08   74.   How can you lose what never really was? 23:45  |  Jason 26/02/08   75.   Israel`s Goal is To Destroy Regional Peace At All Cost 01:08  |  Mr. Know-it-all 27/02/08   76.   Friendly Egypt 01:09  |  Jo Jo 27/02/08   77.   Sweeping problems under the rug 02:54  |  Nathaniel 27/02/08   78.   Egypt might not be the best friend - Tosefta 04:04  |  Mark Lincoln 27/02/08   79.   How insane is the right? 04:08  |  Mark Lincoln 27/02/08   80.   Israel is a bully. Get used to it. 04:38  |  peacelover 27/02/08   81.   israeli "fatheads" are behind it...(2nd try) 07:04  |  eric 27/02/08   82.   What is Israel up to now, and why? 07:12  |  Maureen Ann 27/02/08   83.   Mr. Majali and Egypt 07:28  |  US CITIZEN 27/02/08   84.   @79 mark must decide what the word peace means 08:21  |  v hardman 27/02/08   85.   Well, it`s Israel`s way..... 09:40  |  Johnboy 27/02/08   86.   so when will mubarak make his first business visit to Israel? 09:40  |  Nat 27/02/08   87.   80 09:42  |  war hater 27/02/08   88.   #86 Why should he, Nat 11:19  |  Johnboy 27/02/08   89.   80 17:42  |  war hater 27/02/08   90.   Breaking Ties with Egypt unwise 17:17  |  The Archives 07/04/08

Read & React Iran claims its new warplanes can reach Israel without refueling Responses: 254 Livni helps get Israeli ID card for daughter of top Palestinian official Responses: 67 Egypt to Hamas: Stop blocking Shalit deal Responses: 33 Editorial: Israel must do what it can to stay on Fatah's good side Responses: 30 Akiva Eldar: Israel can't survive on just military strength Responses: 39 Itamar Rabinovitch: Is Russia becoming the Iran of Europe? Responses: 39 More Headlines 08:48 Shin Bet: Release of Palestinian prisoners puts pressure on Hamas 04:00 Security officials voice mixed reactions to Iranian satellite launch 09:07 Clashes over 2009 budget threaten to topple government 08:12 Mike Huckabee: A divided Jerusalem is 'unimaginable' 08:34 70 years on, children who fled Nazis for U.K. to receive German pensions 08:16 Victims of 1972 Munich massacre honored in Beijing 00:28 IDF commander kept in post 3 months after accused of raping mentally challenged volunteer 08:24 Baby that 'came back to life' minutes before burial dies in mother's arms 10:17 Israel to send truckfulls of money to replace worn out currency in Gaza 08:15 Israeli Olympians' top 10 excuses for Beijing medal drought 03:21 To curb fuel costs, Kibbutz Be'eri runs cars on liquefied petroleum 05:50 Education Min. takes broader approach in tackling school violence 03:51 Organs of 21-year-old stroke victim save four patients' lives 05:59 IDF magazine: Wounded soldiers will soon be evacuated by unmanned vehicles Previous Editions Select Day 18 aug 17 aug 15 aug 14 aug 13 aug 12 aug 11 aug 10 aug 08 aug 07 aug 06 aug 05 aug

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