CAIRO: Egypt has extended an invitation to new Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu to visit Egypt, an invite which was relayed by Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman during his visit to Israel.
Some reports indicate that Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has also been invited to Egypt, but President Hosni Mubarak confirmed that the invitation was extended to Netanyahu only.
“The Israeli prime minister is coming alone. His cabinet chief will come with him. He will not bring any other minister with him, he said in a speech Thursday.
The announcement of the possible visits of the new hardliners in the Israeli government was met with a negative response from opposition groups.
“When Egypt invites Netanyahu or Lieberman, it is going against the wishes of the Egyptian people, head of the Arab Socialist Party Waheed Al Aqsari told Daily News Egypt, “The regime is not deferring to the will of the people but rather they are deferring to the current reality.
“This invitation goes against the pride of Egyptians, especially after what Lieberman has said. These things only lead to ridicule of the Egyptians, he added.
Suleiman met Netanyahu on Wednesday in a meeting which lasted almost two hours and which was also attended by Mossad Director Meir Dagan and National Security Council Director Uzi Arad.
According to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, the two discussed, “bilateral relations, the diplomatic process, the struggle against terrorism, the situation in the Gaza Strip and [captured Israeli soldier] Gilad Shalit.
Suleiman also met with Lieberman whose appointment has raised concern in Cairo due to past remarks in which he indicated that President Hosni Mubarak could “go to hell for not visiting Israel as well as urging for the bombing of the Aswan Dam.
This prompted Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit to declare that he would not shake Lieberman’s hand if he was ever to run into him.
An Israeli Foreign Ministry statement released after Suleiman’s meeting with Lieberman attempted to cool matters somewhat by stating, “During the meeting, which was held in a friendly atmosphere, Mr Lieberman expressed his respect and appreciation for Egypt’s leading role in the region and his personal respect for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Suleiman.
