By Jeremy Reynalds

Israeli media reports on Friday revealed that slain Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto intended to establish official relations with the Jewish state if elected, and was seeking Mossad protection in the interim.

A story on the Israel Today web site reported that in speaking to The Jerusalem Post, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert grieved over Bhutto’s assassination following an election rally on Thursday.

Olmert said that upon her return to Pakistan in October after years of exile, Bhutto told him through a mutual acquaintance that she wanted close ties between Israel and Pakistan.

Israel Today also reported that the Hebrew daily newspaper Ma’ariv further revealed that Bhutto had asked Israel’s Mossad spy agency, along with the CIA and Britain’s Scotland Yard, to help protect her in the run-up to Pakistan’s January 8 election.

Bhutto complained that current Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf was trying to make her an easy target for assassination by now allowing her to use adequate protective measures.

Israel Today said that according to the newspaper report, Israel’s Foreign Ministry was in favor of aiding Bhutto. However, the government ultimately decided against it for fear of angering the Musharraf regime and upsetting relations with neighboring India, a close ally of Israel engaged in an ongoing bitter confrontation with Pakistan.

Israeli leaders lamented that Bhutto, a popular former prime minister who was twice deposed by authoritarian elements, could have served as a bridge between Israel and the Muslim world.

© Assist News Service