Cairo, long weary of Islamists, accused Hizbullah of plotting terrorist attacks in Egypt. The government is apparently pursuing 13 members of the group in the Sinai. For their part, Hizbullah has vehemently denied this, admitting only to helping Palestinian resistance at the Rafah crossing point.The spat erupted this weekend after Egyptian government officials accused Hassan Nasrallah, Hizbullah's leader, of war crimes and of setting up sleeper-cells in the Sinai desert. An editorial carried by Al-Ahram stated that "He [Nasrallah] should be dealt with under the Egyptian law and international law. He deserves an international arrest warrant." Nasrallah has admitted that one of the Egyptian detainees was a Hizbullah agent, but denies acting to destabilize the government. Instead, he has said Hizbullah was working in the Sinai to smuggle arms into Gaza. Egypt alleges that a captured operative said the attacks were to be aimed at Israeli targets to take revenge for the assassination of Imad Mughniyah. Hisbullah denied this charge. Hizbullah has long defied Israel and consistently supports the Hamas resistance movement.
This sudden spurt of excitement over Hizbullah in Cairo may exemplify anxiety over a burgeoning influence of Iran in the region. One of Hisbullah's high officials feels it is seen as more legitimate by Western powers. Iran has long supported Hizbullah and Hamas and recent events indicate a possible thaw in US-Iran relations. Egypt may feel threatened by these developments. It is surprising that they would act now against Hizbullah while the cell was uncovered four months ago. Some argue that Egypt sees Hizbullah as merely a proxy for Iran. Putting pressure on Iran may very well have been what Mubarak intended with this episode.
Headlines
Palestine
Released West Bank prisoner arrives in Gaza (Xinhua)
Despite closures, Palestinians celebrate the Easter holidays (IMEU)
Scores of Israeli settlers storm al-Aqsa Mosque and police arrest one Palestinian worshiper (IMEMC)
Abbas arrives in Kurdistan for talks with leadership (Ma'an News)
Two patients die in Gaza, death toll reaches 320(IMEMC)
Israeli forces sieze 11 Palestinians in West Bank raids (Ma'an News)
Report: 147 million USD Lost in Agricultural sector of Gaza due to the Cast lead offensive (IMEMC)
Boat explodes off coast of Gaza (BBC News)
Kerem Shalom and Karni partially open on Monday (Ma'an News)
Israel
IDF chief hails naval forces' vigilance (Jerusalem Post)
Gaza cricket hopes to transcend boundaries on world's stickiest wicket (Guardian)
On Its 100th Birthday, Modern Israeli City Revels in Its Openness and Vibrancy (Washington Post)
Netanyahu Tells Palestinian Leader He Wants Peace Talks (Voice of America)
Amos Oz, Approaching 70, Sees Israel With a Bird’s-Eye View (New York Times)
The Neighbors
Four soldiers killed in Lebanon (BBC News)
Lebanon's drug mafia blamed in death of 4 soldiers (LA Times)
Lebanon's Hezbollah savors increasing legitimacy (LA Times)
Kazakhstan: Military hardware bought from Israel flawed (Haaretz)
International Relations/Law
Sources: Egypt denies Fatah request to hold general assembly in Cairo (Xinhua)
U.S. leaning toward taking part in Durban 2 summit (Haaretz)
Pope urges Middle East peace effort (Al Jazeera)
Activism
U.K. Zionists defend supermarket chain's anti-Israel hotline (Haaretz)
Violence in Gaza a 'victory' for Palestinians (Irish Times)
Commentary
Akiva Eldar: If we give, we'll get (Haaretz)
Douglas Bloomfield: Might Lieberman be the Arab world's best friend? (Jerusalem Post)
James Kirchick: Self-loathing on J Street (Jerusalem Post)
Nasser Al-Lahham: The Ten Curses of Netanyahu’s government (Ma'an News)
Deal Hudson: The Pope Should Go to Gaza (Catholic Online)
Paul McGeough: Hamas Comes Out of Hiding (New York Times)
Bridgett Kendall: Beyond the Obama magic (BBC News)
Antony Lerman: How serious a threat is antisemitism? (Guardian)
Mel Frykberg: Gaza Needs More Aid (Electronic Intifada)
George Hishmeh: US president scores a hit in Turkey (Gulf News)
Historic Freud lectures at Clark are bookended, a century later, by censorship of Finkelstein (Mondoweiss)
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