BICOM

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said yesterday that the recent events in Tunisia and Egypt could lead to a loss of momentum in the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians. Hague, who is currently taking part in an ’emergency peace mission’ covering five countries in three days, was critical of what he called ‘belligerent language’ used by Israeli leaders with regard to the crisis in Egypt. Hague said that the growth of armaments in the area meant that the scale of any future military conflict between Israel and Hezbollah would be on a greater scale than previously seen. He added that peace ‘may become impossible’ within a few years. The foreign secretary described the Israeli government’s attitude on settlements as ‘disappointing.’

The remarks by the British Foreign Secretary are likely to be greeted with a measure of disappointment in Jerusalem. This is particularly so since Israeli officials have noted in recent days a certain convergence in the stances of the US and Israel concerning events in Egypt. Whereas in the initial phase of the unrest, there was a marked division between Washington’s apparent haste to see the departure of President Hosni Mubarak, and Israel’s concerns for stability in Egypt, this gap has now narrowed. US officials are now in favour of a stable transition period, and are refraining from reiterating earlier calls for Mubarak’s immediate departure. Israel also favours a stable transition. As a neighbour with a long border with Egypt, Israel’s primary concern is the maintenance of the peace between the two countries, and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s statements reflect this concern, rather than any hostile or belligerent attitude regarding internal Egyptian affairs.