Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., March 27, 2008 Adar2 21, 5768 | | Israel Time: 12:55 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. (Reuters) Last update - 07:11 26/03/2008 Mubarak: Gaza tension brings Iran threat closer By Barak Ravid, Yoav Stern and Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: Israel, Hosni Mubarak, Gaza  "The situation that has developed in the Gaza Strip in recent months has led to Egypt in practice having a border with Iran," Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak told a senior European diplomat about three weeks ago. According to Haaretz's source, who requested anonymity, Mubarak told the diplomat he was concerned over Iran's growing influence in the region. He also compared the situation in Lebanon to that in Gaza, saying that "in both places, the problems and the crises stem from the growing influence of Iran." Israeli government officials have repeatedly said that Hamas' breach of the Gaza-Egypt border in January sparked a significant change in Egypt's approach to the situation in Gaza, and Cairo is now taking problems such as arms smuggling over this border much more seriously. This process was bolstered after Hamas fired an Iranian Grad rocket at Ashkelon, which Egypt viewed as proof of Iran's penetration of the Strip. Advertisement The political crisis in Lebanon is also worrying Mubarak, who told the European diplomat that he was pessimistic about the chances of a breakthrough that would finally enable Lebanon to elect a new president. The diplomat's impression was that Mubarak and other Arab leaders believe Lebanon's ongoing presidential stalemate strengthens the Iran-Syria-Hezbollah axis and weakens the moderates. The Lebanese crisis is the main reason why many Arab countries, led by Egypt and Saudi Arabia, have lowered the level of their participation at this weekend's Arab summit in Damascus. According to reports reaching the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Mubarak is furious over Syria's efforts to prevent a resolution of this crisis, as well as its increasingly close ties with Iran. Israel views the Arab summit as a critical test of the Syrian-Iranian alliance, with the big question being whether the absence of so many Arab leaders will cause Syria's Bashar Assad to rethink his position. Currently, however, Israel's assessment is that Assad has neither the desire nor the ability to break away from Iran. As an example of the strength of this alliance, Israeli officials cite reports by foreign diplomats who visited Damascus and were stunned to see pictures of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Assad's office. Western diplomats told Haaretz that the Gulf states share Israel's assessment: They, too, believe Syrian-Iranian ties have reached the point of no return. "In the Gulf, they believe that it is currently impossible to sever the ties between these two countries," said one. The diplomats said the Arab countries are very worried by Iran's influence in the region, but are unwilling to go public with their concerns for fear of what Iran might do to them. Moreover, Arab leaders believe that their publics generally support Iran and its positions, so coming out against Iran would undermine their own popularity. One of the few exceptions to this rule has been the Lebanese crisis, where Saudi Arabia has come out publicly against Syria. Meanwhile, Lebanon announced yesterday that it, too, would boycott the Arab summit, to protest Syria's ongoing interference in its affairs. Mubarak and Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah had earlier announced that they would not attend, though they will send lower-level officials. However, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will be attending. Related articles: Chasm in Arab world: Half of its leaders skipping Damascus meet Egyptian president warns Israel: No occupation lasts forever Mubarak to Bush: Palestinian issue is core of Mideast conflict A partner, not a rival Bookmark to del.icio.us   Best served cold Safed chief rabbi calls on state to exact 'revenge' against Arabs. The Jewish hurdle Obama: I disagree with aide who blamed 'NY, Miami' for failed peace talks.   1.   SHUT UP MUBARAK 03:10  |  MOE 26/03/08   2.   Hey im MAHMOUD ABBAS 03:11  |  Mahmoud Abbas 26/03/08   3.   Hey im EHUD OLMERT 03:12  |  Ehud Olmert 26/03/08   4.   BS!!! mubarak conserned about muslim brotherhoos NOT iran 03:33  |  muslim 26/03/08   5.   Talking reason to men beyond it 04:12  |  Mark Lincoln 26/03/08   6.   The view from the other side of DeNial 04:13  |  Tosefta 26/03/08   7.   Self Interest 04:56  |  Joseph 26/03/08   8.   Very well articulated #6 Tosefta 05:00  |  Joe 26/03/08   9.   geoff 05:13  |  geoffmichaelson 26/03/08   10.   Mubaraks tension is Shaking the truth in him 05:18  |  The Archives 26/03/08   11.   Tosefta - saying what is necessary 05:19  |  Mark Lincoln 26/03/08   12.   MUBARAK COZES UP TO IRAN HIMSELF 05:50  |  Fortuna Benmayor 26/03/08   13.   Mubarak nice to know he finally realized what can happen 06:09  |  Shepherd 26/03/08   14.   Mubarak is just disappointed the Bush called off Iran war 06:37  |  Voice of Reason 26/03/08   15.   Mubarak`s only Option 07:01  |  The Archives 26/03/08   16.   Good morning Mub, you finally realized who are your friends 07:25  |  Dan 26/03/08   17.   some think that they know better than Mubarak 07:31  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/03/08   18.   Gee Hosni, like, I had no idea - did you just figure this out? 07:45  |  B`Galil 26/03/08   19.   MAKE THINGS RIGHT 07:58  |  indrajaya 26/03/08   20.   Regional politics as usual 08:11  |  Natallie Durson 26/03/08   21.   the essential wily oriental gentleman mubarak 08:26  |  v hardman 26/03/08   22.   No Matter who is Iran ! WORLD SUPPORT HER DEEPLY 09:11  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 26/03/08   23.   Iran is an angle beside Israel 09:12  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 26/03/08   24.   Mr Mubarak please supply more bread to your people 09:15  |  Adel 26/03/08   25.   Mubarak sees the light 09:56  |  Moshe 26/03/08   26.   Which Iranian threat? 10:18  |  Dutch Dirk 26/03/08   27.   To MOE from Ramallah #1 - Because you love to kill? 10:22  |  Johnny 26/03/08   28.   #4 Well it seems Mr. Mubarak doesn`t agree with you 10:25  |  Johnny 26/03/08   29.   #20, Durson, not regional politics as usual 10:44  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/03/08   30.   Dutch Dirk 11:33  |  Moshe 26/03/08   31.   26 Dutch Dirk problem,in a nutshell! Mubarak is worried about the 13:12  |  lakshmi 26/03/08   32.   no question that pro-West Arab leaders are being targeted by Iran 13:27  |  Avi 26/03/08   33.   Murbarak knows how to make the right.... 13:45  |  Deborah 26/03/08   34.   28. johnnny you are an idiot 13:57  |  muslim 26/03/08   35.   moe 14:27  |  jeff 26/03/08   36.   Mark Lincoln the current Israeli leadership has made things worse 14:28  |  Avi 26/03/08   37.   Durson 14:30  |  Jeff 26/03/08   38.   TO NO 29 CIPORA. GOD BLESS YOU AND ALL YOUR FAMILY. DANNY. 14:32  |  DANNY. 26/03/08   39.   FACTS CANNOT BE CHANGED W FALSE PROPAGANDA, HATRED & IGNORANCE 14:54  |  READ THE FACTS 26/03/08   40.   lis`n kids! yahweh, senior of the 2 15:01  |  bozhidar bob balkas 26/03/08   41.   whatever happened to the iran/egypt idea 15:28  |  anyone know? 26/03/08   42.   The Alawite heretic Asad does not fully 15:43  |  bobby 26/03/08   43.   MUBARAK PREPARING FOR HIS SON BECOMING PRESIDENT 15:46  |  TripleJump 26/03/08   44.   Regional politics as usual 16:03  |  Chris Linthwaite 26/03/08   45.   Saying what will be heard (Mark Lincoln #11) 16:14  |  Tosefta 26/03/08   46.   CONGRATULATIONS IDF JOB WELL DONE KEEP IT UP 17:14  |  KEEP IT UP 26/03/08   47.   READ THE FACTS from SINDEY #39. GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT 18:01  |  Roo 26/03/08   48.   Israel gets to choose the alliances 20:21  |  Pablo B 26/03/08   49.   Morons..Mubarak hates Iranian Regime.. 20:22  |  Stephen. 26/03/08   50.   Dutch Dirk #v 26 20:30  |  Sabra 26/03/08   51.   Indrajayah 19 20:32  |  sabra 26/03/08   52.   General Durson at it again # 20 20:35  |  Sabra 26/03/08   53.   # 48 Pablo B. Thats the spirit. 20:37  |  Stephen. 26/03/08   54.   lakschmi 20:38  |  sabra 26/03/08   55.   Re 44 Chris L (mini click) does not get it 21:37  |  Alan the real one 26/03/08   56.   NOT BELOW MUBARAK, BUT ... 23:38  |  Mohamed Malleck 26/03/08   57.   #49 : Stephen -- Who`s the moron again? 01:12  |  Mohamed Malleck 27/03/08   58.   Iranian threat would be a big problem regardless of Gaza 03:08  |  Jason 27/03/08   59.   What ME needs right now 06:22  |  Denise 27/03/08   60.   #57. Malleck. Morons are those that believe... 12:47  |  Stephen. 27/03/08

Today Online Rights group: Deaths in IDF W. Bank raid were apparent executions Responses: 64 Top rabbis: Harvesting organs of the brain dead is `bloodshed` Responses: 28 Ari Shavit: Olmert doesn't belong in the prime minister's office Responses: 3 Shmuel Rosner: Bush is now behaving like a responsible adult Responses: 6 Meron Benvenisti: Israel's environmental plans do not include Palestinian needs Responses: 5 Rosner's Domain Obama rejects advisor's comments on American Jews and peace process Poll: what percentage Jews will vote McCain? Kurtzer: The pro-Israel lobby, not obstacle for peace How many voters will abandon the Democratic Party? (WTR) Slight preference for Clinton among Jewish Democrats More Headlines 12:53 Defense officials: Hezbollah rockets can reach almost all of Israel 10:34 Rights group: Deaths in IDF Bethlehem raid were apparent executions 08:32 Barak confirms transfer of armored vehicles to PA 11:51 Police seize 63 kilos of hashish, guns in Givat Shmuel apartment 06:24 MKs advance bill calling for new Orthodox-secular school system 10:53 Israel posts clips on YouTube of J'lem yeshiva terror attack