Both Israeli and Egyptian officials denied Thursday a TV report that Cairo was leaning towards imposing diplomatic and economic sanctions on Israel, reported Haaretz newspaper.
The Doha-based Al Jazeera satellite channel correspondent in Cairo said that Egypt was considering taking political and economic measures against Israel to protest against its crackdown on the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Measures under study include severing political contacts until Israel accepts the deployment of third-party monitors and applies a total ceasefire, the channel said.
Egypt is also looking at restrictions on Israelis entering the country as well as halting imports from the Jewish state, it said.
Egyptian sources, however, described the report as “lacking any foundation,” and “bizarre,” said Haaretz.
Various Israeli officials in the foreign office said that Tel Aviv had no indication that the report was true, the paper added.
According to an Israeli source, the latest reports show that Egypt is willing to continue relations with Israel to prevent deterioration of the security situation, and to be able to suggest possible solutions.
Egypt recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv in November after Israel pounded Palestinian targets in air and sea strikes during the early weeks of the Palestinian uprising against Israel.
In addition, Jordan declined to send its new ambassador after the unrest flared.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdel-Ilah Al Khatib said at the time that the decision would "remain in force as long as Israel has not met two basic conditions: an end to its attacks against the Palestinian people and a demonstration of a true commitment to the peace process."
Globalization has also dealt a blow to the imposition of sanctions on belligerent nations.
Most recently, Qatar has agreed to allow Israeli representatives to attend a November World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting on its soil, despite the objections of Lebanon's Hizbollah resistance group and others.
Qatari officials said they did not have any choice in the matter, as the WTO was global body – Albawaba.com
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