Jordan's king: Israel-Egypt peace treaty in danger

King Abdullah tells Washington Post there is a 'very strong possibility' new Cairo regime may choose to revoke peace accord with Jerusalem

Ynet |Published: 10.27.11 , 09:01

The Israel- Egypt peace treaty has never been in greater danger, as the post-Mubarak regime in Cairo may choose to revoke it altogether, King Abdullah II of Jordan somberly predicted in an interview with the Washington Post.

The king had previously expressed his concern over the volatile situation caused on the region in the wake of the Arab Spring, and has urged both Israel and the Palestinians to find a way to overcome the stalemate in the peace process.

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Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, the king described Jordan as "the last man standing with our relationship with Israel," whose relation with once-close allies Egypt and Turkey have been plagued by tensions.

The king further warned that there was a "very strong possibility" the Cairo's new rulers will choose to revoke the 32-year-old accord, but the Washington Post qualified the statement, saying that "Egypt’s role in brokering the exchange of Shalit for over a thousand Palestinian prisoners demonstrated that fears of a major break between Egypt and Israel have been wildly overstated."

Though ominous predictions as to the peace treaty have been voiced since Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak was deposed, geopolitics experts believe that Egypt’s military sees a vital interest in keeping the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty robust, since it primarily serves Egypt's own security interests.

A senior columnist with Cairo's Al-Akhbar daily recently wrote: "The agreement and the (Shalit) deal are a medal on Egypt’s chest to be added to the several medals that it deservedly earned for its ongoing defense and support of the Palestinian cause."

Those who disagree with the king's estimation, say that keeping the peace treaty coincides with Egypt’s desire to reassure the United States that it remains a reliable regional partner, thus ensuring future financial and military aid.