BIBI SUSPENDS CONCERNS ABOUT IRAN NUKES TO FOLLOW UP EGYPTIAN COUP

Jakarta, 22 Ramadhan 1434/29 July 2013 (MINA) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to have frozen his concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme in order to give himself time to follow up the military coup in Egypt, Hebrew language radio station Reshet Beit said.

“What currently tops Netanyahu’s agenda is only the Egyptian issue,” the radio reported. “He has phoned US president Barak Obama, UK Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Hollande several times during the past week asking them not to hesitate in supporting the [Egyptian] army”.

The radio reported that Netanyahu has issued orders to Mossad chief Tameer Bardo and military intelligence chief Afif Kofakhi to discuss the issue of supporting the coup in Egypt when they speak with their counterparts in the West.

Also Read: The US Announces Withdrawal of 2,200 Troops from Iraq

Israel’s ambassadors have also been asked to use diplomatic channels to persuade governments around the world to back the interim government in Cairo.

According to the Israeli radio station, Netanyahu’s most important achievement in this respect took place in America. “After some voices were heard in the US Congress against the coup, Netanyahu moved quickly, after which Congressmen demanded the White House to give a clearer stance in supporting the coup”.

On the other hand, Israel should do all it can to help the new secular government in Egypt beat the Muslim Brotherhood, even if that means amending the Military Annex of the Camp David peace accords to allow more Egyptian military assets into the Sinai Peninsula, the former director of the Israeli Counter-Terrorism Bureau in the Prime Minister’s Office Brig. Gen. (Res.) Nitzan Nuriel told Army Radio on Sunday.

Also Read: Muslim Defense Ministers Meet in Riyadh

Israeli Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman (Likud-Beytenu) warned over the weekend that Sinai was taken advantage of the current turmoil in Egypt to stage attacks.

“What is transpiring in Egypt should in no doubt be worrying us,” he said. “This is our largest neighboring country, the first one we signed a peace agreement with, and clearly instability over there carries implications for the entire region.” Said Lieberman(T/P01/P04).

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)