A confrontation between Israel and Egypt looms in the near future, Labor MK Binyamin Ben-Eliezer warned on Monday amid violent protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square.At least 12 people were killed on Sunday in clashes between security forces and crowds protesting against Egypt's ruling military council in some of the worst violence since the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak. In an interview with Army Radio, Ben Eliezer described the situation in Egypt as "anarchy."Ben-Eliezer had a notoriously close relationship with Mubarak, saying in August that he "was in touch with him every day for 20 to 30 minutes during the [Egyptian] revolution." The former defense minister told Army Radio on Monday that the confrontation he fears will not necessarily be military in nature.Thr Labor MK stated that Israel's relationship with Egypt is of the utmost importance strategically and the only way to improve Israel's standing in Cairo is by renewing peace talks with the Palestinians.
