Deposed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has included some major revelations in his memoirs. The former president, who faces a death sentence in his ongoing trial describes his relationship with his wife, the United States, and his longtime dear friend and confidant, MK and former minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer.

He explains that the Labor Party MK was a close friend and advisor, and for his services, he received $25,000 monthly.

A number of excerpts from the book appeared in the Egyptian media, describing how Ben-Eliezer (Fouad) received the money every month while serving in different capacities in Israeli cabinets and the Knesset. He goes on to explain that Arab leaders customarily have a close advisor, a person who knows all the secrets, frequently taking a Jew and sometimes an Israeli. Mubarak explains he sees no problem with this, explaining the money for Fouad’s salary came from the presidential budget. He states the the only person aware of the arrangement was Ben-Eliezer’s bureau chief and longtime confidant, Zechariah Azmi.

Responding to the reports, officials on Ben-Eliezer’s staff called the news “baseless nonsense”, insisting there is no factual basis to the statements appearing in the memoirs.

A Scottish publishing house paid Mubarak $10 million for the rights to his memoirs.

Regarding the former president’s relations with the White House he writes that Ronald Regan was the US president who did the most to assist Egypt. He details how Regan assisted to rehabilitate the country following the assassination of Anwar Sadat.

Regarding his relationship with President Barak Obama, Mubarak blames the current US president for his downfall.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)