Israel jittery after Brotherhood victory in Egypt

Palestinians wave green Islamic flags (representing Hamas) and the Egyptian national flag as they celebrate the victory of Mohammed Morsi in the Egyptian presidential elections, in Gaza City, Sunday, June 24, 2012. / AP Photo/Hatem Moussa

(AP) JERUSALEM - The Muslim Brotherhood victory in Egyptian presidential elections, announced Sunday, has raised fears in Israel that its strategic 1979 peace agreement with its southern neighbor could be in danger.

In contrast, in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, ecstatic residents flocked into the streets, fired guns in the air and handed out candy in celebration.

Muslim Brotherhood's Morsi named Egypt's President
Timeline: Key events in Egypt's uprising and transition

Israel's peace agreement with Egypt, its first with an Arab country, is a cornerstone of Israeli security. The agreement ended decades of hostilities, with to five wars and thousands of deaths.

While relations have never been warm, Egypt has upheld the deal, keeping its bordering Sinai peninsula largely demilitarized, allowing the Israeli military to focus on other hostile borders with the Palestinians, Syria and Lebanon.

In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he respected the results of Egypt's democratic process and hoped the peace agreement would remain intact.

"Israel expects to continue cooperation with the Egyptian government on the basis of the peace agreement between the two countries, which is of interest to the two peoples and contributes to regional stability," he said.

With the Egyptian military still the ultimate power in Egypt, senior Israeli defense officials who maintain contacts with Egypt said Sunday that they do not expect any immediate changes in relations. Over the long term, they warned, the Brotherhood may seek to cancel the peace agreement. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing a sensitive security assessment.

The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in 1928, is a pan-Arabic movement that favors creation of a Muslim state that encompasses the entire Middle East. It has never given up that goal, but as it gains official power in Egypt, winning parliamentary elections and now the presidency, it has indicated pragmatic willingness to accept the existence of Israel.

Although some Brotherhood leaders have said they will never meet with an Israeli official, they have been careful to say they would not cancel the treaty. Like many other Egyptians, they favor amendments — primarily to allow more Egyptian troops into the Sinai. Israel has already permitted an increase of troops there, demanding that Egypt bring violent extremists under control.

Since longtime Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown last year, Israel has watched the security situation in the Sinai deteriorate into lawlessness. Armed gangs are believed to control wide swaths of territory, smugglers have helped thousands of African migrant workers sneak into Israel and various Arab militant groups, some believed to have ties to al Qaeda, operate freely.

Eli Shaked, a former Israeli ambassador to Egypt, said the Egyptians would "have a lot to lose" if they canceled the peace, including Western investment and billions of dollars in U.S. aid. Even so, he warned, the treaty was not safe.

In the Gaza Strip, tens of thousands of joyous Palestinians took to the streets across the territory after the result was announced.

Gunmen fired automatic weapons in the air, and mosque loudspeakers reverberated with prayers. Some revelers handed out candy on street corners.

The celebrations were marred when one person was killed and six others wounded by celebratory gunfire.

• no previous page
• next

1/2

[sweetcakesmaria]

What's taking Israel so long to label the new Egyptian Government as Terrorist? Every organization in the MiddleEast that's opposed to the Israeli shoddy treatment of the Palenstinians are quickly labled Terrorist by Israel.

[Molly-Pchr]

"joyous Palestinians"..."celebratory gunfire"...one killed, six wounded. Good thing they're not happy everyday. Nuts!

[redbeachvn]

Build more settlements using US tax payer's money. That will solve everything.

[JamesSao]

Danang sucks! Most boring city I've visited!

[joejustjoe]

The first step will be to destroy the Aswan dam and flood the country and leave them in the dark (where most arab cultures are already).

[joejustjoe]

Can't wait for the action to start. How long did it take Israel to whip everyone in the area in 1969? Six days. The Isaelis have a superrb military and are ready to go. The arabs ran for cover like little girls. Their pilots were so brave they were afraid to take off. The arabs have a pathetic military (that is only adept at killing their own citizens) and are cowards who hide behind women and children. The arabs have an alligator mouth and a parakeet a$$. Should be an interesting few days.

[Bubba1212]

For all those that hate iseral just ask how many iseriles killed or beheaded any americans keep pulling for the muslims then you can become one when you have no option

[RickyTick123]

"smugglers have helped thousands of African migrant workers sneak into Israel and various Arab militant groups, some believed to have ties to al Qaeda, operate freely."
Too bad, Izzy, now you can have that racial diversity you try to ram down the World's throat. LOL

[smittyc]

The Hamas celebration in the gaza defines what happened in Egypt. The rest of the article is political correctness.

[Filmguy870]

"The celebrations were marred when one person was killed and six others wounded by celebratory gunfire." OMG....Seriously????? You'd think they may have learned by now.....

[RepublicansRFiscalLibs]

The entire region is stuck in the 12th century.

[FP1970]

Coming soon: Islamists take over American government thanks to Dhimmi bulb poltical correctoids like Barack Obama, that insist on letting them build up their ranks thru mass immigration.

[RepublicansRFiscalLibs]

No problem, if they come here legally.

If you don't like it, lobby to change the laws.