Egypt is now under fierce attack from the Israelis, several US congressmen and a section of US media owned by Jews. It is said that Egypt has concluded a deal to purchase 1,000-km long-range missiles from North Korea that is a direct threat to Israel’s security.
This is not the first time Egypt is under attack for its ties with North Korea. Israel in fact raises a hue and cry whenever Egypt does something to boost its military capability for defensive purposes.
For instance, Egypt in 1999 was under attack when Yehud Barak was at the helm in Israel. Israel’s military brass and Jewish media joined the campaign. At that time Cairo was accused of exploiting the peace with Tel Aviv for boosting its military capability in a way that would endanger Israel’s security. But the real reason for the hard line taken by Israel against Egypt was Egypt’s strong and clear backing for the Palestinians during the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations at that time.
In March 2000, the War Ministry of Israel warned Washington of threats from Egypt and accused Cairo of transferring US technology to North Korea. This transfer, Israel reasoned, was in return for North Korean assistance for Egypt to develop Egypt’s medium range missile program.
The latest Israeli accusation is based on a secret memorandum sent by President Bush to the Congress last November. The memorandum conveys the president’s assent to sell Egypt 53 Harpoon 11 satellite guided land-to-land missiles.
A majority in US Congress support the transaction; so does the US secretary of state. Hence, Sharon’s government begins to invent lies about military ties between Egypt and North Korea and spreads, with the help of the US media, the story about ballistic missiles.
Sharon requested the US administration, during his last visit to Washington, to supply Israel with the latest versions of US missiles so that Israel could retain its superiority in this field. However, it is known that such versions are not to be supplied to any other country.
So, are Egypt’s moves to enhance its military capability questionable? Has not a nation the right to add to its military capability? And isn’t such criticism by Israel interference in Egypt’s internal affairs? Now let’s examine Israel’s offensive capability. By 1999 Israel has acquired the following:
— 100 Jericho 1, 650-km nuclear warheads.
— 100 Jericho 2, 1,500-km nuclear warheads.
— 120 lance, 130 km-warheads.
Furthermore, a report by a strategic studies center attached to Tel Aviv University reveals that Israel possesses advanced land-to-land missiles with a capacity to reach 4,800 km. In addition, Israel has 613 warplanes, 25 F-15s, 83 cargo planes, three of them for air-to-air refueling. This is in addition to 293 Apache choppers and 3,900 tanks. Israel also produces 70 tanks of advanced technology.
Israel has also developed a military ideology that calls for "rapid transfer of battles into enemy territories" as set forth by Israel’s first president, Bin Gurion.
Israel should realize that a non-stop campaign against Egypt either by Israel or the Jewish lobby or US Congress will not serve the US-Egypt relations. Nor will it strengthen the Israeli-Egyptian ties.
The Israeli policy will only undermine US strategic interests in the Middle East.
