Shootings, attacks test Israeli-Egyptian relations
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Xinhua, August 22, 2011
The killing of Egyptian policemen and soldiers Thursday apparently by Israeli troops, who were in hot pursuit of militants responsible for attacks earlier in the day within Israel, have strained relations between the two nations.
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Egyptians protest against Israeli raid. |
On Saturday, an Israeli diplomat in Egypt delivered a statement from Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak expressing his regret over the killing and proposing a joint investigation during a meeting at the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
But officials in Egypt were unimpressed by the Israeli gesture.
"The Israeli statement was positive on the surface, but it was not in keeping with the magnitude of the incident and the state of Egyptian anger toward Israeli actions," Egypt's official news agency MENA quoted an Egyptian cabinet statement as saying on Sunday.
Israeli analysts told Xinhua that the cool reaction of Egyptians is an indication to how much the relations between the two countries have declined since former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down in February.
Changes on ground
Mubarak was considered a strong ally by Israel because of similar views on many regional issues. During his 30 years in power, Israel could count on the southern border to be relatively quiet and demand few military resources. However, after Thursday's attacks, that could all change, according to Prof. Barry Rubin, director of the Global Research for International Affairs Center.
"Clearly, it will have to be a military priority to reinforce the border," Rubin said, adding that "It means re-establishment of the southern command as a regularly functioning front."
Last year Israel started building a new fence along the porous border with Egypt. Rubin said the fence, which is only 20 percent complete, will now have to be finished and with more army forces stationed along the border.
Rubin didn't foresee any negative reaction from Egypt if Israel were to undertake these measures "since the terrorists have also attacked the Egyptian army." He did, however, express concern for future security along the border.
"There is a longer-term problem, which is in the future, especially after an elected government takes office: how good a job will the Egyptian army do in guarding the border?" Rubin wondered.
Elections are scheduled to be held in Egypt in September.
