WikiLeaks: ‘Israel preferred Suleiman as successor’

Leaked cable reveals that Israel regarded Omar Suleiman as its preferred successor to President Hosni Mubarak.

JERUSALEM: Israel has long regarded Omar Suleiman, just appointed Egypt’s vice president, as its preferred successor to President Hosni Mubarak, according to a US diplomatic cable published by the WikiLeaks.

“We defer to Embassy Cairo for the analysis of Egyptian succession scenarios, but there is no question that Israel is most comfortable with the prospect of Omar Soliman,” said the cable written by the US embassy in Tel Aviv in 2008, using its own spelling for his name.

Suleiman, Egypt’s intelligence chief since 1993, has been a frequent visitor to Israel and a mediator in its conflict with the Palestinians. The United States has thrown its support behind a transition effort launched by Suleiman, appointed by Mubarak as vice president after massive protests calling for an end to the 82-year-old Egyptian leader’s 30 years of rule.

The cable, dated August 29, 2008, summarised talks Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak had held with Egyptian leaders in the port city of Alexandria. It quoted one of Barak’s advisers, David Hacham, as saying the Israeli delegation was “shocked by Mubarak’s aged appearance and slurred speech”. “Hacham noted that the Israelis believe Soliman is likely to serve as at least an interim President if Mubarak dies or is incapacitated,” the cable said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9^th, 2011.