Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul-Gheit said Monday that Egypt would use its diplomatic influence to harm Israel’s interests if Israel harmed Egypt’s ties with the United States.  Egyptian officials have blamed Israel for a US decision to withhold some military aid until Egypt does more to fight weapons smuggling on the Gaza border.

Aboul-Gheit said that Egypt is capable of causing serious damage to Israel.  Egyptian authorities expressed anger recently after Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni accused Egypt of doing little to stop weapons smuggling.  In addition, Israeli MKs sent a video clip to the US that showed Egyptian security officials assisting Hamas terrorists in bringing weapons into Gaza.