ANALYSIS / Egypt's rage at Hezbollah isn't on Israel's behalf

[Fozzledick]

By Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff

It is sometimes hard to believe the remarks coming out of Cairo over the past 48 hours are actually directed at Hezbollah. The Egyptian press has tagged its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, with denigrating epithets like the "monkey sheikh," and remarks from security officials in Cairo to the Israeli press sound reminiscent of how generals speak in times of war.

Those same officials air blunt warnings that Egypt will "vigorously hit back" those who endanger its national security, "whether Iran or Hezbollah." Cairo has made clear that from its perspective, Hezbollah had crossed each and every line in the sand.

This is not the first time Egypt has thwarted the plans of Islamist groups to harm Israelis in its territory. Still, the current incident is being viewed in Egypt as more serious than ever before it, as this time Israel was merely a secondary target. Egyptian security sources said Hezbollah cells were planning strikes against ships in the Suez Canal, an incalculable strategic asset for the country, and this would not be the first time regional war broke out over disrupted traffic on its waters.

The canal nets Egypt billions of dollars a year, a revenue source second only to tourism. A strike on a ship crossing it would be a dizzying blow to Egypt's economy, President Hosni Mubarak's regime, the country's standing in the Arab world and its own national pride. Tourism would also experience a steep drop if Egypt became perceived as a country which cannot maintain its internal security.

...

Former Military Intelligence chief Maj. Gen. (Res.) Aharon Ze'evi-Farkash believes Nasrallah was fulfilling a mission he was ordered to carry out by Iran. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is striking a hard, provocative line against Israel and the West, and under his mentorship Nasrallah seems to be sticking his neck out even further.

Ze'evi-Farkash believes the Middle East is on the brink of a particularly significant period in its history as the Barack Obama administration calls for renewed dialogue with Tehran. But Iran would want to enter such a dialogue from a position of strength, seeing the international community is too weak and hesitant to stop its nuclear program or its intervention in affairs in countries around the region.

In Israel's eyes, a high-profile confrontation between Egypt, Iran and Hezbollah is good news. But even now, it is best to keep in mind that Egypt is hardly working in Jerusalem's best interest. Egypt's rage at Nasrallah will not necessarily translate into comprehensive steps against weapons smuggling to Gaza, or to warmer relations with Israel.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1078378.html

[Kurska]

1. What a fuck up!

Seriously, the hizzies were actually banking on being able to topple the Egyptian government with a few terror attacks and blocking the suez canal.

[bemildred]

2. Report: Israel Helped Egypt Capture Hizbullah Cell

(IsraelNN.com) Israel's Mossad was one of a number of foreign intelligence services that provided Egyptian authorities with information that contributed to last week's arrest of 49 members of a Hizbullah terrorist cell, according to the Tuesday edition of Intelligence Online.

According to the report, the Lebanese head of the ring, Sami Shihab, had been in contact for some time with a special branch of Shi'ite dsterror group which has been led senior operatives Nawaf al-Mussawi, Wafic Safa and Sheikh Ali Dugmush since the elimination of arch terrorist Imad Mughniyeh. The three operate in coordination with General Faisal Bagherzadeh, head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard mission to Lebanon. Hizbullah blames the killing of Mughniyeh on Mossad agents, resulting in Israel maintaining a high alert regarding Hizbullah activities around the world.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/163562