Israel and Egypt, gearing up for a fight?

According to the latest polling from the Pew Global Attitudes Project, a majority of Egyptians want to ditch the peace treaty with Israel…

Meanwhile, Egypt and Israel are at each other’s throats over Egypt’s cancelation of a Mubarak-era natural gas export deal. Egyptian officials insist the decision wasn’t politically motivated but stems from Israel’s failure to pay for the gas. Israel depends on Egyptian natural gas for 40 percent of its energy needs.

The rhetoric on both sides is escalating. Israel’s Finance Ministry called Egypt’s decision ”a dangerous precedent that casts clouds over the peace agreements and the atmosphere of peace between Egypt and Israel.” Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi warned that Egypt’s border was “perpetually in danger.” Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Egypt was a “greater threat than Iran.” Egyptian officials have said they were well within their rights to cancel the deal—a Muslim Brotherhood spokesman called the decision “excellent.” In response, Israel appears to have mobilized six reserve battalions to defend the border with Egypt, as well as Syria.