Israel has intensified security on its border with Egypt for the first time after verdicts were issued in the Mubarak trial yesterday, security sources in Sinai told Al-Masry Al-Youm. Eyewitnesses at the border area said the presence of Israeli armored vehicles and border patrols has increased markedly over the past two days due to terrorism fears. The sources denied that Egypt had deployed forces on its borders and said everything was normal. On Saturday, Mubarak and his longtime interior minister, Habib al-Adly, were given life sentences for failing to stop the killing of protesters during the 25 January uprising. The court cleared six high-ranking Interior Ministry officials of the same charges, and acquitted Mubarak's sons Alaa and Gamal of financial corruption charges. After the eruption of the 25 January revolution, Israeli fears over its relationship with Egypt and the Camp David Accords grew in light of the increasing prominence of Islamists in Egypt. In an interview with Israeli TV on Saturday, Knesset member Benjamin Ben-Eliezer expressed disappointment over the court ruling and said he expected the court to sympathize with Israel. He also added that Mubarak's efforts over the past 30 years to keep stability in the Middle East was important, not because of Mubarak's position as president of Egypt, but for his wisdom and deep knowledge of the Middle East. “Whoever knew Mubarak closely would know that Middle East will not be the same. It makes me disappointed that the change is not toward the best,” he said. Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
