Israel has rejected a request from the Egyptian authorities to send more troops to the Sinai Peninsula, Israeli media reported on Monday.
Media sources reported in late January that Israel, which voiced fears over the stability of the Middle East amid riots in Egypt, allowed Cairo to send 800 soldiers to the peninsula to ensure chaos does not spread throughout the region.
"We do not want to create the impression that the peace treaty has lost its force, particularly at a time when there could be a regime change in Egypt," the Jerusalem Post quoted a senior military source as saying.
Egypt was the first Arab country to officially recognize Israel and sign a peace agreement with the Israeli government in 1979. Under the treaty, Sinai was returned to Egypt which agreed to leave the peninsula demilitarized.
Israel has voiced concerns over plans by Egypt's banned Muslim Brotherhood movement to scrap the strategic peace treaty with Israel if it comes to power.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hoped the treaty would not be threatened by any new Egyptian government that may emerge from the protests, which have swept Egypt for the past two weeks.
TEL AVIV, February 7 (RIA Novosti)
