CAIRO: Ousted president Hosni Mubarak was offered asylum in Israel several months ago, according to a statement by an Israeli politician on Wednesday. Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, a member of the Israeli legislature, told Israeli radio that he offered Mubarak political asylum following a “wave of protests against him.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he added, was present and in support of the offer. “I told him it was a short distance, and that it might be a good opportunity for him to heal himself,” Ben-Eliezer said. The exact time of the offer, which took place in Sharm El-Sheikh, was not specified. Although members of the legislature do not have the authority to make the offer alone, Ben-Eliezer was “convinced that the Israel government would have accepted him.” However, Mubarak did not accept the invitation. “[Mubarak] refused because he is a patriot,” Ben-Eliezer said. The statesman's comments, which have sparked negative reactions in Egypt, came out just before Mubarak appeared on live TV on the first day of his trial. Ben-Eliezer is considered close to Mubarak, local Israeli paper Ha'aretz reported. The deposed president maintained an alliance with Israel throughout his rule.
