[Jerusalem Post] Yaakov Katz - Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Wednesday in Sharm e-Sheikh. Barak discussed weapons smuggling as well as other regional issues such as the Iranian threat. Israeli defense officials said Egypt is just as concerned about Iran as Israel is. Despite tension over smuggling across the Egypt-Gaza border, Israel and Egypt are not ready to give up the strategic alliance they have managed to forge since they signed a peace agreement almost 30 years ago. Both countries are aware that they need one another. Israel sees peace with Egypt as a model for other Arab and Muslim countries. On the other side, Egypt views its relations with Israel as a strategic asset. Cairo recognizes the fact that Israel and the Jewish lobby have a great deal of influence in Washington.
2007-12-27 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive