Intelligence minister says Israel-Egypt ties will overcome Sinai unrest
Dan Meridor: Replacement of Cairo intel chief won’t harm relationship with Jerusalem
Aaron Kalman is a former writer and breaking news editor for the Times of Israel
Israel’s relationship with Egypt won’t be harmed by the replacement of Egypt’s intelligence head — who was also responsible for ties with Jerusalem — Intelligence and Atomic Energy Minister Dan Meridor told Army Radio on Thursday.
Meridor said ties between the two countries “have been shaped by a peace treaty for 33 years.”
Israel and Egypt managed to get through “the assassination of [Anwar] Sadat, and the fall of [Hosni] Mubarak,” Meridor said. Now is the time for the relationship to help “the interests of both countries.”
Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi fired his intelligence chief and the governor of Northern Sinai on Wednesday, following the deadly Sunday attack on troops near the Gaza-Egypt-Israel border by suspected Islamist terrorists.
Sacked Intelligence chief Murad Muwafi was appointed to the post shortly before the Mubarak regime fell last year. He was temporarily replaced Wednesday by Mohammed Raafat Shehata, a former presidential guards commander.
Both Muwafi and Shehata are said to have positive relations with Israel. Shehata was deeply involved in the handover to Israel of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was freed by his Hamas kidnappers, via Egypt, last October.
On Tuesday, Muwafi admitted Egypt had received prior intelligence on the attacks from Israel, but had not acted because it could not believe Muslims would kill other Muslims during the Ramadan break fast meal.