Haaretz: Without Egypt, “Israel” Will be Left with No Friends in Mideast

Local Editor

"Without Egypt's Mubarak and with relations with Turkey in shambles, "Israel" will be forced to court new potential allies", Aluf Benn wrote in the beginning of his article in the Haaretz Zionist daily.

He believes that the fading power of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's government leaves "Israel" in a state of strategic distress.

"Without Mubarak, "Israel" is left with almost no friends in the Middle East; last year, "Israel" saw its alliance with Turkey collapse", the article added.

""Israel's" increasing isolation in the region, coupled with a weakening United States, will force the government to court new potential allies".

The article stated a history of the "Israeli" relations and alliance in the Middle East, and how its relation with Egypt evolved after "Israel's" war against Egypt in 1956, followed by a cycle of conflict broken by signing a peace agreement between both sides.

Furthermore, the Aluf Benn's article also pointed out the "Israeli"-Egyptian relations after Hosni Mubarak came to office.

"Despite all of this, the "cold peace" with Egypt was the most important strategic alliance "Israel" had in the Middle East. The security provided by the alliance gave "Israel" the chance to concentrate its forces on the northern front and around the settlements. Starting in 1985, peace with Egypt allowed for "Israel" to cut its defense budget, which greatly benefited the economy", the Haaretz article read.

The article also stated mutual fear "Israel" and Egypt had over Iran's strengthening in the region, and on the other hand, the weakening and distancing of the US government led by Barack Obama.

The author considers that with having now Mubarak struggling with the Egyptian Civil uprising, "Israel" will be left with no friends in the region. He believes that these would be two allies, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority, but he adds that "Israel's" relation with these two allies is complicated, and its relation with the leaders is poor.

Aluf Benn says, "It's hard to tell how Jordan and the PA could fill the role that Egypt has played for "Israel"".