Egyptian military reportedly bracing for Israeli invasion of Palestinian areas

CAIRO — Arab diplomatic sources report that the Egyptian military is bracing for the prospect of an Israeli invasion of the Palestinian Authority areas.

The London-based Al Zaman asserted that Egypt's military has begun mobilizing reserves for training in what was termed as preparations for a war against Israel.

Egyptian state-owned dailies have reported of a pledge of loyalty by Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi to President Hosni Mubarak. Tantawi is commander of the military.

"The armed forces renews its pledge to you and to Egypt," Tantawi said in a message to Mubarak. "We will maintain the formidable fort that protects the homeland, preserves its sanctuaries and defends its achievements."

Israel has made a priority in trying to keep Egypt out of any regional war. In an attempt to avoid friction with Cairo, Israel has denied reports of Egyptian help to Palestinian fighters.

This week, an Israeli military spokesman denied Arab reports that Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz accused Egypt of supplying weapons to the PA. "The IDF [Israeli Defense Forces] spokesperson wishes to clarify that the publications in Arab media, according to which the IDF Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz, accused Egypt of supplying weapons to the Palestinian Authority, are untrue and unfounded," a military statement said.

Earlier, Israeli sources said the Egyptian military is allowing massive amounts of weapons and ammunition to be smuggled from Sinai to the Gaza Strip.

Egypt is hosting an emergency meeting of the Arab League on March 12 in Cairo. The meeting, headed by Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Mussa, is meant to discuss the latest developments in the Israeli-Palestinian mini-war as well as calls to renew a boycott against Israel. The meeting would include the foreign ministers or representatives from the Arab League, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Tunisia.