ISRAEL FEARS US AID CUTOFF TO EGYPT

Jakarta, 8 Dhulhijja 1434/13 October 2013 (MINA) – It isn’t just Egypt lamenting the loss of U.S. military and financial aid, Israel fears a cutoff will hamper Egyptian efforts to quell militants in the Sinai Peninsula, where they threaten to destabilize the entire region.

If the militants mustering there can’t be stopped, Israeli officials fear they could use the lawless territory to launch attacks not only on Cairo, but also on Israel, unknown Israeli official told Fox News as quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).

“The situation in Sinai is deteriorating and is becoming of grave concern, not just for Israel, but first and foremost for Egypt,,” the official said.

“It seems that jihadis are getting bolder every time, and with every action they pose a real threat to national security in Egypt, not to mention to security on the border, and potentially to Israel,” he added.

On Wednesday, the State Department announced that as well as withholding financial aid, the U.S. would suspend the planned delivery to Egypt of anti-ship missiles, 10 Apache helicopters and tanks, as well as another military equipments.

The U.S. previously canceled biennial joint military exercises with Egypt and suspended delivery of four F-16 fighter jets.

On Wednesday, the State Department announced that as well as withholding financial aid, the U.S. would suspend the planned delivery to Egypt of anti-ship missiles, 10 Apache helicopters and tanks, equipment seen as essential in helping Egypt’s interim government keep up the fight against radical jihadist groups causing havoc in the vast Sinai desert.

“The decision was wrong. It is a flawed decision in terms of content and timing and raises serious questions over the United States’ readiness to provide strategic support to Egypt’s security programs,” complained Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Badr Abdellaty

On Thursday, after a suicide attack in the Sinai city of El Arish killed three policemen and a soldier, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the cutback in aid is not a sign the U.S. is abandoning Egypt, its strongest Arab ally for decades.

“By no means is this a withdrawal from our relationship or a severing of our serious commitment to helping the [Egyptian] government,” Kerry said.

But Israeli officials fear the U.S. decision has already emboldened many with links to Al Qaeda. In recent days they exploded bombs in Cairo, including at a major gas plant, and concerns are growing that the crackdown by Egypt’s Gen. Abdel Fatah el-Sisi against the Muslim Brotherhood and radical Islamic groups could falter if the government runs out of funds or the military hardware to fight a potential insurgency.(T/P03/P04)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)