It should help Egyptian interim strongman Omar Suleiman’s prospects of getting the nod to take over permanently for his mentor, Mubarak, after Egyptians read the glowing things Israeli defense ministry officials reported to U.S. diplomats in this Wikileaks cable, which resulted from Israeli consultations in Cairo in 2009. Here the defense ministry’s Arab affairs staffer offers his portrait of the Egyptian leadership:
Hacham was full of praise for Soliman, however, and noted that a “hot line” set up between the MOD and Egyptian General Intelligence Service is now in daily use. Hacham said he sometimes speaks to Soliman’s deputy Mohammed Ibrahim several times a day. Hacham noted that the Israelis believe Soliman is likely to serve as at least an interim President if Mubarak dies or is incapacitated. (Note: We defer to Embassy Cairo for analysis of Egyptian succession scenarios, but there is no question that Israel is most comfortable with the prospect of Omar Soliman.)
When you hear Obama, Clinton, Merkel and Sarkozy call for Mubarak to remain and for Suleiman to play a continuing role as leader of the country, keep in mind that this is also Israel’s preferred position. And ask yourself whether those leaders, especially Obama, who is under constant pressure from the Israel lobby, follow this policy line because they believe it will good for Egypt, good for U.S. interests, or good for Israel.
And our friends in Egypt should know well that the new “father of the nation” is Israel’s choice. That should certainly make him theirs as well. This certainly also guarantees that Suleiman will be just the type of independent leader that Egypt needs in this period of transition, not beholden to any elites or powerful interests either domestic or foreign.
Why can you not countenance the idea that America, Germany, France and Israel all have the same interests regarding Egypt, rather than “that shitty little country”(as the French called us) has such an influence over these major world powers?
Maybe the French were trying indirectly to get revenge against Dick Cheney for all the times he called France the same thing?
Why should the major world powers have any interest in maintaining brutal thugs in power? I can understand completely why Israel likes these brutal thugs, but not why the other major powers do.
Attributing every bad thing on the face of the planet to the government of Israel, that’s whats getting you the negative exposure within the Jewish communities in Seattle and other places.
Richard, the American government has a long lasting history of supporting thugs, from south America to the middle east. as long as they serve the US interest.
You yourself showed support for the Hamas on these pages, who are nothing but thugs.
as for the world support of Mubarak, The USA and others always supported those who subjugate the extremist, from the Shah in Iran, The Saudi king, The Jordanian King, Mubrak and many others on that part of the world.
Once every so often you will get an unrealistic president in the white house, who decides to follow his “values” and creates a long lasting mess in the middle east.
such was Carter, such was Bush to some extent (with his pursuit of Democracy), and such is Obama to the fullest.
Amazing, that you guys don’t learn from your own history, maybe you should watch Iranium again ?
Oh lordie….! Where to begin. Deception, contradiction, insult to injury, defensiveness to the nth degree all of which betray that you have a HUGE problem with this article; that what is being exposed here is the absolute truth and because you have no way to wiggle around it to distort it, no credible argument to counter it with lies; you resort to ad hominem attacks.
Typical Israeli apologist strategy.
Let me make you feel more unconformtable….these facts that expose Israel’s, correction Zionists’ “over-arching influence” to exert absolute control over their neighbors and meddling shenanigans are but the tip of the iceberg.
Get ready, because it’s gonna get much, much uglier for Israel. Zionists have been up to no good for quite some time in the shadows, but the curtain is being drawn and the structure is coming apart at the seams.
This Revolution is just the beginning of Israel’s nightmare.
Katea – the only deception here is you deceiving yourself.
IlanP hit the nail right on the head and that’s why you replied so rhetorically without actually saying anything aside from insulting.
This “revolution” will eventually be good for Israel as the real face of extreme Islam (as opposed to the moderate mainstream) will raise it’s head in Egypt and then Jordan together with Hizbollah and Hanas, and the West will finally understand the perils of this extremism and give Israel even more support.
Unfortunately the real losers will be the Palestinians as right wing Israeli governments will “show” the world that “yet again” there is no partner for peace and point out how Israel is surrounded by extremists.
This is not only utter nonsense it is nonsense supported by nothing more than yr ignorance, racism & extreme prejudice. I don’t allow racism in this blog. If you have a pt to make & can do so using credible sources to bolster it, do so. If all you want to do is spout unsupported nonsense you know where to go for that: Rotter, Debka Files, etc. Not here.
Wow, & you’re a judge who actually passes sentence on Muslim defendants. Imagine the justice they get fr. you. You claim you administer justice fairly. How could a Muslim get a fair shake fr. you in court? In truth, you should disqualify yrself fr. judging a Muslim as yr extreme prejudice prevents him fr. getting a fair trial in yr courtroom. In fact, if this were the U.S. I’d report you to your local bar association for prejudicial comments. Alas, in Israel the bar association would likely give you a plaque.
And they smell & look like rats too, right?
“This “revolution” will eventually be good for Israel as the real face of extreme Islam (as opposed to the moderate mainstream) will raise it’s head in Egypt and then Jordan together with Hizbollah and Hanas, and the West will finally understand the perils of this extremism and give Israel even more support.”
– Paranoid Zionist hysteria on the loose.
Shai,
Are you referring to the French??
Kalea,
what are you talking about ? what ad-hominem have i directed at anyone ?
just to make sure , you and others understand, i combined a reply to two posts. this one and the one above it.
nothing more.
and as shmuel said you are deceiving yourself. The piece agreement with Egypt was the cornerstone of resolving the conflict with the Palestinians, without it there will be no negotiations, no talks nothing.
i suspect that with continuation of riots, Egypt will see a military revolution soon. but that’s besides the point.
It’s a shame that you sometimes let yourself yell out without really analysing what I said.
It is not racist to say that an extremist Muslim regime as opposed to a mainstream one would do or not do something. To distinguish as you often do between various factions in one race or religion is perfectly legitimate and in no means racist – you actually do it all the time concerning various Jewish groups in the extremes. I have no problem at all with moderate Islam which is generally tolerant of other religions. Unfortunately, like Jews, the extremists give the moderates a bad name and claim to speak for their moderate peers.
As a judge I have no prejudices against Muslim defendants, and in fact generally have no knowledge if they are actually Muslim or Christian or atheist unless they obviously look the part (rare).
Your criticism is vacuous and unwarranted and is below your general level of fair debate. I don’t take kindly to being called a racist, and you should be extremely careful in choosing your words.
Typical nonsense, which gets published only because its anti- Israeli, and provokes other users (who as always are getting attacked by this blogs owner as soon as they respond in the same manner).
Where did he lie exactly? Whom did he contradict?
If you claim the “Revolution is just the beginning of Israel’s nightmare” then you must realise why Israel prefers to see someone like Sulieman taking Mubaraks position. How did Egypt manage to build its army, if not by using USA’s money? Who supports Saudia and provides its army with the newest weapons? Again I’ll ask: where did u see Ilan lie? did he deny Israel would prefer to see someone like Suleiman ruling Egypt?
The “Revolution” might indeed be a nightmare for Israel, if Egypts leaders will choose to focus on hatered for Israel as a solution to all of the problems of the Egyptians (though im doubt the poverty of the gen. population there has anything to do with us, the evil zionists).
Of course, its easier to explain to the people they dont know how to read because of Israels policy in gaza, than actually teach them how to read (after all – they might actually realise their leaders are feding them bullshit if they are able to read themsleves).
and Richard, for christ’s sake, not every “Revolution” will create a new USA somewhe in the world and should be blindly and enthusiasticly supported. The bolsheviks took over Russia as a result of a revolution as well, and i doubt anyone thinks the outcome there was that good for anyone.
This is a violation of my blog comment rules. Read them carefully. If you violate them again your comment privileges may be restricted. No one here is “anti-Israel.” Opposing Israeli policies such as the Occupation does not constitute being “anti-Israel.” Be very careful in how you express yrself & how you characterize views of others.
It’s always about you & Israel, isn’t it? You can’t believe that the Egyptian people actually have far more important things to worry about right now then hating Israel. But you will have only yrselves to blame if you don’t resolve the I-P conflict & so remove it as a thorn in the side of every Arab in the region.
This is blantant racism and abject ignorance. Do not attribute claims such as this that you know have no basis in fact. You are walking on a very thin edge. If you don’t express yrself based on facts & continue spewing racist opinions you will seal yr fate here.
Spoken like the true cynical Israeli you likely are. However, Egyptians have spoken and clearly disagreed w. you. Egypt will create a gov’t that is right for it. It will not be a “new USA.” It will be a “new Egypt.” And thank God for that. I look forward to it. You don’t. And that’s what separates you and most Israelis from the rest of the world.
Talk about inapt historical comparisons…
“That shitty little country” (as the French called us)
This is rewriting history. The ambassador of France to the UK, Daniel Bernard, said that in a private conversation back in 2001 at a dinner party. He was ‘demissionné’ and sent to Alger. By the way, I’m not sure that would have happened if he’d talked about Mexico or Japan.
You’re right, if he’d have said it about Mexico or Japan he’d be another statistic on the unemployment figures. Since it was “only” Israel he criticised he kept his diplomatic employment and was sent to a new job in Algeria.
# Shmuel)
You’re in a advanced state of ethnic paranoïa.
A French minister said recently, and in an official interview that ‘they’ (I cant” remenber who) acted worse than the Mexican army, i.e. as savages, hinting at the various fractions during the Mexican Revolution. The Mexican ambassador of course protested. Another was caught saying of a fellow UMP female politician ‘quelle saloppe’ (what a bitch’). An official excuse, and that was all forgotten.
Bernard made his comment at a private dinner party. If all diplomats making biased comments about Arabs or Arab countries when in private were fired, there would be a lack of diplomats (and personally I think ‘this shitty little country’ is far too polite).
The problem here was that he refused to apologise.
You can say what you like about my country, so long as you represent no one but your tiny self. His problem was that he represented his country as a career diplomat even at private parties and should never have thought as he did let alone say it.
“The problem is that he refused to apologize”
No, the problem is that you comment on things you don’t know anything about.
I lived in France at the time, and after 9/11 it was probably the most commented incident of the year. The multiple Zionists and Israel-firster in the MSM never allowed us to forget it, and Bernard walking on his knees from Paris to Jerusalem wouldn’t have changed anything:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/letters/3571221/Comments-on-Israel-distorted.html
Deir Yassin: I read the link you sent, and in fact he doesn’t admit to having said what he said, and instead is insulted by the flak he received as a result of the incident.
Were he to have had the guts to admit and withdraw it would have been a different story.
“It should help Egyptian interim strongman Omar Suleiman’s prospects of getting the nod to take over permanently”
This is a new definition of “permanently”, in the sense of about a fortnight at most?
“Reform postponed is revolution begun.”
Im sory, didnt know u were the owner of the term “anti israeli”. Opposing israels policies IS being anti israeli, Richard. Just like when someone is “anti american” it doesnt mean he hates all the american citizens, but rather the state and its policies. Besides, you donrt seem to care how YOU characterize vies of others, right? anyone, u can even ban me as much as i caree. it migfht be surprising for you, but ur blog is not the first site i open every morning, to learn about wisdom of world. I actually usually open it only when i want to waste 5 minutes of my life on arguing with people who pretend to be half gods, while having very little knowledge fo the outside world.
Richard, Are you actually capable of reading plain English?
Your friend Kalea wrote the revolution will be a nightmare for israel. i asked why, and wtf israel has to do with the problems in egypt. So who here thinks its “always about Israel”, if not you and your friends?
No basis in fact for what? For quoting kalea, who believes that the outcome of the revolution will be nightmare for me and other fellow israelis? You’re so over-ready to use the term racism im starting to doubt you even know what it means. Suleiman and Tantaui are not a “race” and neither mubarak nor the muslim brothers are. 30 or 40% of the popluation in egypt doesnt know how to read. Even this is a simple fact, unless u think wikipedia was hacked by the elite hackers of avi bnayahu. So hoping people in egypt will learn to read (the 30% of them who cant) is being racist, eh? Im guessing one of us should re-read what racism (or even race) is.
Disagreed with me how? Yes, “Right for it”, exactly, which means it wont nessesarily becoming a democracy or anythign close to it. and since we both agree it cannot be taken for granted egypt is going to be a democracy, then yes – a “cynical israeli” like me prefers a leader like sulieman whos at least west- oriented.
Because you are a speciliast on russian history as well, right?
Richard, with all the respect to your phd title, you’re not a specialist in every possible field in the world. Yes, the comparison between russia and egypt is in place, because it shows one simple historical fact: Not every revolution leads to a democratic regime, or even to a better regime. But you and your friends can keep on thinking egypt is on the road to haven, and not to chaos/civil war/iran-like islamic state, and keep on blaming Israel if it remains poor.
No, I don’t own the term. I own the blog. You can use the term anywhere you want but here unless you very specifically prove with facts that a statement is “anti-Israel.” You didn’t do that & hence violate my comment rules.
OK, I’ll say this a 2nd time. It isn’t & this entire blog is based on that premise (that it isn’t). So if you persist in this argument you have nothing to say to us here & will lose yr comment privileges. I will not allow you to violate such a basic premise of this blog. Period.
And that’s precisely where you run into a ditch. It doesn’t mean you hate the state. Not at all. THose criticial of U.S. policies (at least many of them) don’t hate the State. They hate the policies. And this is a crucial distinction which you’re too much of a lunkhead to understand. My job here isn’t to be a teacher. If you want to retain these prejudices you’re welcome to them. But you’ll express them elsewhere.
That’s pretty perverse. Life is short. Why would you waste any of it in such a manner?
Your comment was racist because you claimed that Egypt would in future use the conflict with Israel to excuse the fact that no one in Egypt can read. That’s racist. I don’t know how anyone on Wikipedia knows for a fact what the literacy rate in Egypt is. But if they have based this claim on a legitimate & recent source, it may be accurate. But I don’t accept such statements unless you provide the source & date (year) for the literacy rate claim.
Yes, in fact it does mean that if the people win (& they have so far) they will create an Egyptian democracy or something very close to it. It will likely be something similar to Turkey which, despite your hatred of it, is a democracy which truly represents the will of the people. As for yr preference for Suleiman, you & he are dinosaurs looking to the past. Turn yr eyes to the new Egyptian future. Or ignore it at yr peril.
I’m expert enough to know that a comparison between the Egyptian & Bolshevik Revolutions is beyond lame. You ought to read a bit more history from real credible sources before you go off half cocked with lame historical analogies.