Israel is in quiet, behind-the-scenes talks with top-level officials in the United States and in Egypt, aimed at coordinating strategies in case of spillover violence from the ousting of President Mohammed Morsi.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke Thursday with Secretary of State John Kerry on the telephone about possible policies. And Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon spoke with his U.S. counterpart, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, while Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch talked with U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice, The Times of Israel reported.
The calls signify “the importance of a quick and responsible return of full authority to a democratically elected civilian government as soon as possible,” said Bernadette Meehan, a spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council.
Israel, meanwhile, also quietly sent an unnamed government head to Cairo to talk with senior intelligence agents, The Times of Israel reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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