For intelligence officials and government leaders in Israel, the instability in Egypt is worrisome, especially following the latest events. Tens of thousands of protestors gathered in Tahrir Square and vow to remain, unwilling to hear of any compromise, insisting the protests will continue until the ruling authority meets all their demands.

The Egyptian cabinet has submitted its resignation today to the country’s ruling military council, Monday evening November 21, 2011 following three days of violence and bloodshed that leaves a mounting death toll, reported to have reached at least 35 since the beginning of the weekend.

The violent protests resumed on Monday morning, the fourth consecutive day, and the death toll is rising at an increasingly rapid rate, with reports from Cairo indicating hundreds have been injured.

In Jerusalem, military commanders, particularly the intelligence community, fear that the instability will jeopardize upcoming elections, which may result in the Islamic Brotherhood earning a formidable place in the new government.

MK Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, who is a former defense minister and viewed as an expert on Israel’s relations with Cairo released a statement today that the relations maintained between Jerusalem and Cairo during the administration of President Hosni Mubarak are a thing of the past. Just last week the  veteran lawmaker warned that a confrontation with Egypt is entirely possibly, and perhaps event likely based on the instability in that country.

In the interim, the military regime that is running affairs in Egypt, albeit unsuccessfully, is signaling that it plans to maintain control until after
presidential elections. It remains unclear just when these elections will be taking place.

From Israel’s point of view, the events unfolding add to concerns of regional instability as another staunch ally appears to be falling to the
wayside, following Turkey’s lead after Ankara cut off relations with Israel a number of months ago over the Mavi Marmara navy commando operation against a the Turkish backed ship that tried breaking Israel’s blockade of Hamas-controlled Gaza.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)