Israel's Haaretz newspaper, citing senior Israeli officials, reported Monday that Israel is urging the world to tone down Mubarak criticism during Egypt's unrest to preserve stability in the region.
Senior Israeli officials said that on Saturday night the Foreign Ministry issued a directive to around a dozen key embassies in the US, Canada, China, Russia and several European countries. The ambassadors were told to stress to their host countries the importance of Egypt's stability. In a special cable, they were told to get this word out as soon as possible, the paper reported.
Israel is watching events in Egypt with vigilance, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his cabinet on Sunday, Israel's first official comment on the unrest in its neighbour.
Protests against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's rule have worried Israel, which signed a peace treaty with its largest Arab ally more than 30 years ago, and uncertainty over Egypt's future has raised fears for the stability in the region.
"We are following with vigilance the events in Egypt and in our region […] At this time we must show responsiblity and restraint," Netanyahu said, adding that he hopes peaceful ties with Egypt will continue.
