The diplomatic cat and mouse game ended with a meeting between visiting Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, but the meeting was held under a media blackout and not in the Foreign Ministry, with Suleiman unwilling to meet the senior Israeli minister on Lieberman’s home turf. The venue was moved to the Prime Minister’s Office.

On Wednesday, it appeared that Suleiman would not be meeting with the foreign minister. Israel Radio reports that significant pressure was exerted on Suleiman by Israel’s Foreign Minister, resulting in the meeting after Lieberman met the preconditions.

According to a number of reports, Lieberman was also compelled to apologize regarding negative remarks made about Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak ahead of the meeting.

The Israeli media states the meeting was held in a “good atmosphere” and the two sides emerged pleased with the progress, with Suleiman extending an invitation to Lieberman to visit Cairo. While the meeting is covered by the Israeli media, there are no photos since Suleiman refused to meet in the presence of the media. Israeli media reports state that Lieberman acknowledged Egypt’s key role in the region, thanking the Egyptian administration for its peace-making efforts.

The Egyptian media on the other hand is not reporting the meeting, preferring to ignore what might be perceived by Egyptians as a slap in the face since Lieberman has been an outspoken opponent of the Egyptian leader’s unwillingness to visit Israel. Lieberman in the past also stated Egypt is doing next to nothing to halt weapons smuggling into Gaza.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)