Jerusalem – Rabbi Ovadia Yosef has written a letter to President Hosni Mubarak, in which he wished him health, following the Egyptian president’s recent medical treatment in Germany and reports about his deteriorating health. “We pray to the creator of the universe to send you full and speedy recovery,” he wrote.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hand the letter to Mubarak on behalf of Ovadia, during the leaders’ scheduled meeting on Wednesday.
“For your highness, President of Egypt Muhammad Hosni Mubarak, may his glory be exalted,” wrote Shas’ spiritual leader.
“May you continue to lead you countrymen in majesty, courage and strength, for a lifetime and in peace; may you succeed in all your doings, according to your heart’s desire,” the letter read.
Rabbi Ovadia signed the letter with a warm greeting, “Respectfully yours, in the greatness of your virtue.”
The rabbi and Shas Chairman, Interior Minister Eli Yishai, have kept in close touch with Mubarak for many years. Only recently, journalist Yotam Feldman, who was arrested in Egypt, was released from custody with the help of Yishai’s mediation.
Arab media has been reporting about Mubarak’s deteriorating health condition for many years, and recent reports have rekindled the debate over who will inherit the presidency, with his son, Gammal, leading the race.
However, President Mubarak never confirmed such reports and is due to complete his fifth year of his sixth tenure as president. He has yet to announce whether he will compete in the upcoming elections slated for 2011.
Speculations over Mubarak’s health have increased in recent months following his March trip to Germany, where he underwent an operation to remove a gull bladder. Doubts about his medical situation surfaced again last week after Mubarak made a sudden visit to Paris and met with President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Daily Arab newspaper al-Quds al-Arabi reported that the Egyptian president conducted medical check ups while visiting the European country.
can someone please explain why Rav Ovadia would do this? I am looking for a serious answer.
Ridiculous! When will we stop prostrating ourselves before those who seek our destruction? This galus mentality grosses me out!!
Please let us know how the Arab world accepts the Rov’s wishes for a refuah shleimah.
if neture karte would do this they wouldv’e been criticized.
Right. Because you know better. It’s better than the mentality of shooting off our mouths like we own the world and pretend that nobody’s listening.
To: 1,2,3 and 4; first of all Rav Ovadia is Egyptian born, 2nd of all since the Sinai treaty Egypt has bin a close friend of Israel, even when they criticized us in public, behind the scenes they would always back us, and tell Israel that they just mean it to keep the Arab world in check so that when they do back Israel at any time the Arabs know that Egypt really means it and that would make Jordan think twice before saying some thing against Israel, because after all the 3 keep up with each other all the time. Egypt and Jordan relies a lot on Israel after all.
What i’m wondering as well is, that when Rabbi Ovadia him self was leading in Egypt, between 1947 and 1950, he suffered a lot of trouble from the government!
I enjoyed the writer’s choice of words:
“… Gammal, leading the race …”
Was this pun intended?
im just wondering what financil gain oy has now sucking up to people who continuously criticize israel and who cares where he was born mubarak is known to hate israel and not too back israel