Mohammed Mursi
Mohammed MursiReuters

Former Israeli consul in Egypt Meir Mishan said on Monday that he believes Egypt’s president elect Mohammed Morsi will have to deal with Egypt’s internal problems – namely food, education and employment – before he will be able to re-examine the peace treaty with Israel.

“There are educated young people in Egypt who cannot find employment,” Mishan told Arutz Sheva, adding, “The government needs to solve this problem. The young people are the ones who started the whole revolution in Tahrir Square and the impression is that they were a little disappointed in the results of the election.”

As for Morsi’s attitude toward Israel, Mishan said he is convinced that Israeli leaders are exploring his intentions to re-examine the peace agreement and have come up with ways of dealing with it. Regarding his intent to strengthen relations with Iran, Mishan said he believes such a connection will not flourish, since Morsi will be busy dealing with his country's internal problems and, other than statements of support of Iran in the media, there will be no significance to these relations.

On Monday, the Iranian Fars news agency published an interview with Morsi in which he pledged to strengthen ties with the Islamic Republic to create a “balance” in the Middle East. The Egyptian presidency later denied that Morsi gave such an interview.

Mishan told Arutz Sheva that he believes the Egyptian government will be double-headed, as the country’s Supreme Military Council has already changed the constitution and curtailed the president’s powers, giving it the ability to make decisions on security related measures.

He said he recommends that Israel monitor the situation in Egypt but not take steps that may be viewed by the other side as an escalation.

“There is no need to take military measures,” said Mishan, adding, “We should be focusing on Gaza and the crossings from it to the Sinai and back.”