http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=165353The Egyptian government believes July will be a decisive month that may see an Israeli military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities, according to a senior Egyptian security official speaking to WND.
The official said Egypt already has implemented security measures that take into account an Israeli strike against Iran within the next month or so.
The Egyptian estimation could not be verified by officials in Jerusalem contacted by WND.
Also, officials in the Palestinian Authority said they did not have any indication of a Middle East war in the summer.
Mahmoud al-Zahar, Hamas chief in Gaza, told WND he believes a Middle East confrontation is likely, possibly in the next few months.
"You don't need to be a fortuneteller to see that Israel is planning something soon," said al-Zahar, speaking on his cell phone from Gaza.
The Egyptian security official, meanwhile, said his country bolstered security forces along the border with the Hamas-controlled Gaza, believing Iran will urge Hamas to retaliate against Israel during any war with the Jewish state.
The security official said the Egyptian military has been placed on a general high alert.
He said a decision two weeks ago to open the Egypt-Gaza border took into account the possibility of an Israeli military strike against Iran next month. He said during any future war between Israel and Iran, the Gaza-Egypt border will need to remain closed due to likely security threats from Gaza.
Egypt opened the border amid international pressure against Israel to ease a so-called blockade of Gaza after nine violent activists on a Gaza-bound flotilla were killed when they attacked Israeli forces who had raided their ship.
Egypt's estimation of a Middle East conflict may be particularly relevant since Israel has recently coordinated military training exercises with the Egyptian government. The drills were clearly aimed at Iran.
Egypt last year granted Israel permission to conduct naval exercises off Egyptian coastal waters.
The Egyptian estimation also took into account a United Nations vote yesterday to impose a fourth round of sanctions on Iran. Tehran immediately vowed to continue with its nuclear program.
The sanctions, however, do not affect an air-defense-missile deal in which Russia is expected to sell its advanced S-300 missile systems to the Iranians. The sanctions also do not halt a Russian plan to construct possible new nuclear-power plants in Iran.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters today his country was still in discussions to build new nuclear plants for the Iranians.
Also today, Russia's Foreign Ministry said new U.N. sanctions against Tehran do not oblige Moscow to scrap its deal to deliver the S-300.
The missile system could complicate any military action aimed at Iran's nuclear plants.
Topic: 'Israel may strike Iran next month' (Read 2421 times)