A speech by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Sunday to mark National Police Day will most likely have pleased Israel's security chiefs and those in the world who deem the Palestinian Islamic resistance movement Hamas as a terror organization.

Mubarak said the construction of an under- and over-ground metal barrier between Egypt and the Gaza Strip will not be halted. His words followed requests from Hamas, which controls Gaza, to cease work on the wall of steel.

The aim of the barrier is to make it impossible for Palestinians to crawl through the dozens of tunnels cut beneath the border, which are used to transfer goods in and out of Gaza.

Israel maintains that Gazans ferry arms, cash and terrorists via the tunnels in addition to consumer items.

Since last year's fighting between Israel and Hamas, Egypt has been under American and European pressure to put an end to the smuggling routes.

However, analysts said that the construction of the barrier is mainly due to Egypt's own interest, noting that Israel should not celebrate Egypt's tough stance against Gaza.

Israel keeps mum

So far Israel says it will not comment on what it dubs "an internal Egyptian affair". However, it is understood from what was said on Monday by Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor that Israel understands why Egypt has begun work on the barrier and seemingly does not object.

"Hamas is a fanatic, violent and dangerous organization threatening all around it. It has imposed on Gaza a state of war against Israel, against the Palestinian National Authority and against Egypt," said Palmor, adding that "Hamas is primarily a danger to Arabs and Muslims."

The view in the Israeli corridors of power is that Egypt is sick and tired of Hamas. Cairo tried to act as a broker between Hamas and its Palestinian rival Fatah, but to no avail. It does not want its territory to be used for weapons smuggling nor does it want to see a strong organization along its border that is supportive of the Muslim Brotherhood opposition within Egypt.

The steps taken by Egypt are largely viewed in the Israeli security and political elite as being approbation of the Israeli approach to Hamas -- that it is a terror organization.

Israel points to the Maghreb, or North African countries that are trying to prevent Hamas officials from entering their territory and more so from holding high-level meetings. Egypt looks to be following a similar route.