Newly leaked U.S. diplomatic cables suggest that Egypt's Vice President Omar Suleiman was long seen by Israel as the preferred candidate to succeed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

According to a 2008 cable released by WikiLeaks, a senior adviser from the Defense Ministry told U.S. diplomats in Tel Aviv that the Israelis believe Suleiman would likely serve as "at least an interim president if Mubarak dies or is incapacitated."

The cable quoted the advisor, David Hacham, as saying that he sometimes spoke to Suleiman's deputy several times a day via a "hotline." The diplomat added: "There is no question that Israel is most comfortable with the prospect of" Suleiman.

According to the cable, Hacham stated that an Israeli delegation led by Defense Minister Ehud Barak was "shocked by Mubarak's aged appearance and slurred speech," when it met him in Egypt. "Hacham was full of praise" for Suleiman, however, it said, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Suleiman, formerly the chief of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate, was appointed Egypt's Vice President by President Hosni Mubarak last month following the outbreak of mass protests against the regime.

He has been known as a powerful figure who has kept Islamists in check at home while managing contacts at the highest level with Israel, Fatah and Hamas abroad.