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Israel fears new war as Egypt teeters on brink of anarchy

November 24, 2011 12:51
A protester throws a gas canister towards Egyptian riot police during clashes in Cairo last weekend

ByAnshel Pfeffer, Anshel Pfeffer

2 min read

A former Israeli defence minister has said that the growing chaos in Egypt could lead to an all-out conflict on Israel's southern border.

Knesset member Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, who had close relations with the Mubarak regime, said on Monday that while Israel needed to maintain its co-operative relationship with Egypt, "it's not working now".

"We are willing to co-ordinate everything with them but the control is not with the army - it's with the masses. We have to get used to that," said Mr Ben-Eliezer.

The renewed violence in Tahrir Square this week in which over 40 civilians have been killed has called into question the ability of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, under Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, to keep order. The military council has ruled Egypt since former President Hosni Mubarak's departure in February.