Ben-Eliezer: Egypt's dawn is Israel's dusk

Israeli minister of defence, Benjamin Ben-Eliezer,  has expressed his concerns about the future of Israel's long-term relationship with Egypt, following the Egyptian presidential elections, when changes on the political scene, he said,  "would cast its shadow not only on Egypt but on the entire Middle East region." Ben-Eliezer, who had close ties with the deposed president Hosni Mubarak, in an interview with Israeli radio, said  that a new era was about to begin following the elections which will be totally different from the era of Mubarak,  where a relationship was forged and developments made with the former Egyptian regime. “What happens in Egypt will have an impact on two fronts - internal and external."  Regarding the first, Ben-Eliezer said that Egypt's  economic and social deterioration would either spiral downwards,  or the country would rise up  and head towards development. On the external front, he described Egypt as  "a pivotal state in the Middle East, so whatever happens will affect the entire region.” On a more hopeful note, Israel's minister of defence said: “The election taking place is witnessing an unprecedented participation. It is being organised in a democratic manner to the maximum extent, and subjected to control and supervision. I hope the results will not convert the new dawn they are talking about in Egypt,  into one of darkness for Israel.”