Special to WorldTribune.com

RAMALLAH — Egypt has reported success in its effort to stop Israel’s
plan to invade the Gaza Strip.

Egypt’s ambassador to the Palestinian Authority said the military regime
in Cairo blocked a major Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip earlier this month.

Egyptian ambassador Yasser Othman said his government warned Israel not to invade the
strip and instead rely on Egyptian efforts to reach a ceasefire.

“Egypt prevented Israel from launching a major military incursion into
Gaza and succeeded in halting the ongoing tit-for-tat attacks across the
border,” Othman told the Palestinian news agency Maan.

Israeli officials have acknowledged heavy Egyptian and U.S. pressure not
to escalate the mini-war with the Iranian-sponsored Islamic Jihad, which
fired missiles into several cities. They said Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu has pledged to refrain from a major military operation as long as
the Jihad attacks do not result in massive casualties.

This was not the first time Othman warned of an Israeli invasion.
Several weeks ago, Othman asserted that Israel drafted a plan for
a major military operation in the Sinai Peninsula.

In the interview with Maan, Othman said Israel was violating a ceasefire
arranged by Egypt. He said Cairo would maintain efforts to end the fighting
and praised what he termed was the restraint of Palestinian militias in the
Gaza Strip.

“The Egyptian official [Othman] applauded Palestinian factions for ‘not
being swayed by Israel’s provocative acts,’ ” Maan said on Nov. 1.

  Benjamin Netanyahu, Egypt claims it stopped Israeli invasion of Gaza Strip, Gaza Strip, Islamic Jihad, Palestinian Authority, Yasser Othman