Ahmad Maher El Sayed, the Egyptian foreign minister, is expected to be taken to task during a visit to Israel this week, his first for two years. Israeli sources claim that the flights contravene a peace treaty between the former enemies that was signed in Washington in 1979.
“We’ll raise the urgent issue of their spy flights for sure,” said one Israeli source. “However, we know that they may stop them only when we intercept the intruders, and that will not take long.”
Egypt’s unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) have been seen in recent weeks over Israel’s nuclear research facilities at Nahal Sorek and the test site for the country’s advanced ballistic missiles in Palmahim, south of Tel Aviv.
To the alarm of Egypt and other Arab countries, Israel is believed to be one of the few countries in the world capable of launching a nuclear attack by air, using F-16 planes; by land, using Jericho ballistic missiles; and by sea, using new submarines equipped with cruise missiles.
General Moshe Ya’alom, the chief of staff, boasted last week that Israel could strike within a metre of its targets.
The Egyptian flights, in turn, are causing concern in Israel. “We’re worried about them,” said an Israeli military source. “That they have the nerve to send their UAVs over is a worrying sign.”
The new concern reflects broader worries in Israel about the growing military might of Egypt, which, although substantially weaker than its neighbour, has 500,000 soldiers and a strong navy and air force.
Israel recently asked America not to supply Egypt with advanced F-15 jets or “smart” JDAM (joint direct attack munition) bombs. When the Americans queried the request, they were shown intelligence that revealed the “enemy” in all Egypt’s recent war games was Israel. Cairo’s request has now been put on hold.
Although Egypt is believed to possess chemical and biological weapons, its overall military might cannot be compared to that of Israel, which has a similar non-conventional capability and nuclear weapons. While the Egyptians are flying their drones over their neighbour, Israel has the Ofek-5 spy satellite, which observes every inch of Egyptian territory.
Concerns are compounded by the uncertainty of the political situation caused by the poor health of Egypt’s president, Hosni Mubarak, 75, who was forced to interrupt a speech last month when he became ill. Mubarak, who came to power in 1981 after the assassination of Anwar Sadat, has refused to appoint a deputy.
“Mubarak is committed to peace with Israel,” said one Israeli politician last week, “but it is not certain that his successor will be equally committed.”
