MIDEAST: Israeli official welcomes announcement from Egypt's new military rulers that Cairo will respect international treaties

Record ID: 349384

  • Title: MIDEAST: Israeli official welcomes announcement from Egypt's new military rulers that Cairo will respect international treaties
  • Date: 13th February 2011
  • Summary: JERUSALEM (FEBRUARY 12, 2011) (REUTERS) PEOPLE IN STREET WOMAN WALKING IN STREET (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI CITIZEN ROBERT BERGERSTEIN SAYING: "I'm nervous about the peace agreement because even though I think the army would like to keep it, if the government changes and it becomes like Turkey, which is now hostile to Israel, it will be a cold peace or maybe worse a
  • Embargoed: 28th February 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Jerusalem, Israel, West bank
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVACD2U5VB7EUX1651XU8PXYX9CL
  • Story Text: A senior Israeli official on Saturday (February 12) welcomed an announcement from Egypt's new military rulers that Cairo would respect international treaties.
    "This is a good announcement ... Peace is not only in the interest of Israel but also of Egypt. I am very happy with this announcement," Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said on Channel 2 television.
    "Look, we still don't know what will happen next, let's tell the truth. We are all praying for real democratization, it will be good for the Egyptian people and in my opinion good for all the peoples in the region, as well as for us as Israelis. I also think that many people fear the possibility of Islamisation, like Iran. Our working assumption is that Egypt will maintain diplomatic relations and the peace treaty with Israel; it's important for them, it's important for us. And I believe we will know more in a few weeks," he added.
    Israel has been watching warily from the side as nearly three weeks of popular protests in Egypt -- a rare Arab ally -- led to the resignation President Hosni Mubarak.
    Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979 and has since helped the Jewish state navigate in what is otherwise a mostly hostile region.
    Israeli citizens voiced mixed feelings over the Egyptian army's announcement.
    "I'm nervous about the peace agreement because even though I think the army would like to keep it, if the government changes and it becomes like Turkey, which is now hostile to Israel, it will be a cold peace or maybe worse and they will start supporting our enemies," Jerusalem resident Robert Bergerstein told Reuters Television.
    Another resident, Yoram Avner, was optimistic.
    "We are really hopeful to live with peace another 30 years with them and in all the Middle East," he said.
    Also on Saturday, in the northern Israel city of Nazareth, hundreds of Israeli-Arabs held a demonstration supporting the Egyptian revolt. In Ramallah, senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Yasser Abed Rabbo, greeted the Egyptian people.
    "The Palestinian people wishes to Egypt that it will stay a great and central country in the region and the world. This is an essential interest for Palestine and the people in the region. Egypt is a great country. It is a good partner to the Palestinian people in its struggle for freedom and independence," Abed Rabbo told reporters.
    Steinitz was the first Israeli official to comment on the military's commitment to international treaties. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently warned that Islamic extremists could use the instability in Egypt to take power.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register