“Egypt's Slow Military Gives Israel Freedom to Act”

Stratfor reported in last night's Global Intelligence Update that Egypt's military, while strong enough to present a threat to Israel's security, has a severe problem with mobilization. Russian and American reports indicate that it would take them six months (6 months!) to be ready for a war.

Stratfor suggests that this gives Israel more latitude in dealing with the ongoing Palestinian Intifada. To quote:

The Egyptian military’s readiness problems provide the Sharon government with extra slack in achieving its security objectives with regard to the Palestinians. With little prospect for an Egyptian military response, Tel Aviv can focus on the West Bank and Gaza and in Lebanon. Israel also can stonewall international efforts to reach an immediate settlement.

Egypt will step up its efforts to bring an end to conflict before it escalates further, seeking to avoid a war it is not prepared to win.

Of course, that doesn't mean Egypt will succeed in their efforts to "bring an end to conflict". Nobody's been able to bring peace to the region yet. I see this escalating, significantly, before it calms down.