Juicy leaks on Israel, Egypt, and the minutia of Mideast politicking

Fountain of leaks: Assange, the Duchamp of our time?

I spent yesterday digging deep into the latest cache of diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks. Here are some of the gems, which first appeared on @MideastChannel's twitter feed:

Great aside from 2006 cable... "Note: Egypt is the primary source of palm fronds for Succot to Israel." wikileaks.org/cable/2006/08/…


Egypt & Israel trade shmatas, "fabric imported from China to be manufactured in Egy and then sent back 2 Isrl 4 resale" wikileaks.org/cable/2008/08/…

Israel's labor mvment "no longer sell an idea about the state's obligation to its citizens; they sell insurance." wikileaks.org/cable/2005/11/…

Lieberman meets Lieberman: "Avigdor bemoaned lack of #Israeli leadership, harking back to the Begin era" wikileaks.org/cable/2006/04/…

Uh, good luck with that.... "Cancer Fight in Middle East Focuses on Tobacco, Awareness" wikileaks.org/cable/2005/04/…

Amb raised #Egyptian ban on US poultry exports, noting that... connection with [H1N1] outbreaks in US was unscientific. wikileaks.org/cable/2006/11/…

US embassy in Tel Aviv details Israel's medical marijuana policy and synthetic THC therein wikileaks.org/cable/2006/12/…

MB on 9/11: "#Brotherhood issued a statement of shock,expressing regret @ this attck agst all human values" wikileaks.org/cable/2008/08/…

Beware of "Dead Sea cosmetics and skincare industry fraud" in US malls, writes US embassy in Tel Aviv wikileaks.org/cable/2009/02/… #Israel

Special Rep for #NPT Christopher Ford assured #Egypt that US supports "call for a #WMD-free Middle East" wikileaks.org/cable/2007/04/…

US advocacy for a WMD-free Middle East?! wikileaks.org/cable/2008/09/…

"Thank General Soliman...for excellent intelligence cooperation and reaffirm U.S. commitment to #Egypt's security." wikileaks.org/cable/2009/03/…

Really?! US embassy says to Sen Lieberman in 2009 -- #Egypt's "Economic reform has been, on the whole, a success story" wikileaks.org/cable/2009/02/…

It turns out State Dept listens to @FoEMidEast: "Biblical River Jordan Now Sewage-Laden, Drying Up" wikileaks.org/cable/2005/03/…

"Awad held a press conf @ his mission in which he glowered at a pack of chortling journalists and brandished a pistol." wikileaks.org/cable/2006/04/…

Why doesn't this cable abt #Israel's ascension to OECD mention the OPT? Violation of bribery convention discussed tho. wikileaks.org/cable/2008/09/…

So many demarches to thwart the "Goldstone report," so little time. This one is US to Democ Repub of Congo.... wikileaks.org/cable/2009/11/…

"Israeli immigration practices r limiting W Bank enterprises' ability to conduct business"+restrictions on work permits wikileaks.org/cable/2009/10/…

Hey US officials in Israel -- Post via Israel National Road Safety Authority says no texting and driving! wikileaks.org/cable/2010/02/…

Israeli "interlocutors continued 2 press for the opportunity 2review the QME report prior 2 its submission 2 Congress" wikileaks.org/cable/2009/07/…

Scenesetter for SCAF policy: "Maintaining the status quo on #Egypt's FMF is 1st & foremost on Tantawi's agenda." wikileaks.org/cable/2006/03/…

@MideastChannel

Craving some legitimacy? "#Mubarak declared... he was 'begging' others to participate in the presidential elections." wikileaks.org/cable/2005/03/…

2006:"Saudi Arabia has believed&still believes in the right of people in a state of occupation to engage in resistance" wikileaks.org/cable/2006/07/…

If leadership change were 2occur at some future point, Dagan and his team predicted that Asad's successor would come from within the elites

"Despite Bashar's weakness, Dagan did not predict that he would be driven from power any time soon." wikileaks.org/cable/2005/06/…

"On a personal note, Mubarak mentioned that a date has not yet been set for his wedding to fiancee Khadija el-Gammal." wikileaks.org/cable/2006/08/…

Bahrain pledges "concrete steps to help implement... educ, econ, and scientific partnerships" viz BHO's Cairo speech - but not democ reforms wikileaks.org/cable/2009/07/…

Jul 2008: Kerry meets with Mubarak and talks about the whole region and beyond--- except for Egypt! wikileaks.org/cable/2008/07/…

Soliman to Petraeus:"It is hard, but I am always optimistic. I consider myself a patient man,but I am losing patience" wikileaks.org/cable/2009/07/…

Mubarak seems 2 be trusting 2 God and the inertia of military and civ. security services to ensure orderly transition. wikileaks.org/cable/2009/01/…

Moussa complained that altho Bush in 2002 had called for a Palest state by end of '05, we were still far from that goal wikileaks.org/cable/2008/10/…

ShinBet not concerned that Hamas cld use shekels 2purchase any materials from abroad that could be used for terrorism wikileaks.org/cable/2010/02/…

"In terms of atmospherics... #Israeli delegation was "shocked" by #Mubarak's aged appearance and slurred speech." wikileaks.org/cable/2008/08/…