U.S. diplomatic cables leaked by WikiLeaks indicate that Israel has long considered Egypt's new Vice President Omar Suleiman a preferred successor to President Hosni Mubarak.
WikiLeaks has released 2008 cables from the U.S. embassies in Cairo and Tel Aviv that show close cooperation between Suleiman and the Israeli and U.S. governments in his previous role as Egypt's intelligence chief. Documents provided byWikiLeaks to Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper quote unnamed U.S. diplomats as saying there is "no question" that Israel is "most comfortable" with the prospect of a Suleiman presidency.
After anti-government protests began in late January, Mr. Mubarak named Suleiman as the first-ever vice president of his 30-year rule. As head of Egyptian intelligence, Suleiman earned international respect as a mediator in Middle East affairs and became Israel's main point of contact in the Egyptian government.
NEW: Follow our Middle East reports on Twitter
and discuss them on our Facebook page. |