ISRAEL IS LEADING INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO SUPPORT EGYPTIAN ARMY
Cairo, 14 Syawal 1434/21 August 2013 (MINA) – Israeli government is planning to intensify its diplomatic campaign urging Europe and the United States to support the military-backed regime in Egypt, New York Times quoted Sunday a senior Israeli official.
“Ambassadors in Washington, London, Paris, Berlin, Brussels and other capitals would lobby foreign ministers, according to the official. At the same time, Israeli officials inside will press the case with diplomats from abroad that the military is the only hope to prevent further chaos in Cairo,” the newspaper said.
On Saturday, the New York Times reported that “diplomatic sources said that (Israel) and Egyptian Defense Minister General Abdel Fatah al-Sisi have been in close contact.
These same diplomats say that (Israel) assured Egypt it did not have to worry about the US threat to cut its enormous aid package to that country, according to ALQASSAM report monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
On Sunday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the arms supply to Egypt may be compromised in the course of pressure on the interim leadership in Cairo to stop the violence in the country.
“Exporting arms to Egypt may be influenced by steps we may take. Soon the EU foreign ministers will meet to discuss the situation,” Merkel announced in an interview for a German TV channel.
Also Saturday, the European Union said it was reexamining its relations with Egypt. France and Britain called for Europe to send a strong message on the escalating crisis in Egypt, urging the EU to review its relations with Cairo.
The French presidency said in a statement that after talks by telephone, President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister David Cameron agreed “on the seriousness of the violence of recent days and on the need for a strong European message,”
Egyptian police said on Sunday at least 35 detained protesters have been killed while attempting to escape from a prison convoy, but the Muslim Brotherhood has alleged that their supporters were killed in cold blood and called for an international inquiry into the incident. (T/P012/E1)
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
