What if the Problem in Egypt Really is the People?
A thousand talking heads and neo-conservative experts on the region assure us that a bright future stretches out before Egypt like a magic carpet. “Democracy,” “Freedom”, “Representative Government” are the buzzwords that trickle wetly out of their printers. All cynicism is disdained and skepticism swept into the dustbin. History is being made here. But the tricky thing about history is that it isn’t a point on a map, but a continuous wave. Like the tide, history is made and remade over and over again, formed and repeated, washed and beached on the shores of time.
Mubarak is the problem, we are told. And he certainly is their problem. The pesky 82 year old air force officer standing in the way of their dreams of a new Egypt. If not for him, Egypt would be a liberal model for the region. Just like Gaza, Lebanon and Iraq. But is it the dictator or the people who are the problem? The protesters are unified by a desire to push out...
Herzliya Conference Panel expressed no confidence in the peace process
By Ted Belman
MK Shaul Mofaz of Kadima spoke first. He said it was urgent that Israel make a deal soon but didn’t see a complete deal any time soon. So he promoted his provisional state idea.
The Hon Robert Wexler, Pres, H Daniel Abraham Center for ME Peace supported the Arab Peace Initiative and said the gaps are narrow and we should be able to close them. He essentially supported the Clinton Parameters. Wexler stressed that strategic cooperation between the US and Israel has never been better.
Prof Shlomo Avineri of the Hebrew University showed himself to be very intelligent and wise. Before dealing with this topic, he said no democracy is in sight in Egypt. As for the peace process he said there is little chance of the process restarting let alone concluding. Both peoples are just not ready for the necessary compromises, he said. He preferred to work on conflict management but said the PA won’t sign an interim agreement.
He favoured lifting the blockade on Gaza...
Obama panicked. The Regime stayed cool.
At the Herzlia Conference today there were two panels on Egypt. First one with Robert Wexler and David Gordon from US think Tanks a Danny Rothschild and Yaakov Amidror from Israel. Generally they all agreed that Obama screwed up and should have stuck to quiet diplomacy. They all agreed that the US should stay involved and try to channel a good result. They had varying degrees of optimism or pessimism with regard to probabilities. They also discussed the struggel between the realists who align with dictators and idealists who align with the street. The latter believe that real stability only comes from democracy. The Americans thought that they could live with the Muslim Brotherhood.
The second panel consisted of ex-pat Egyptians who live in Europe and Judith Miller. They didn’t know what they were talking about. They all thought that Mubarak should go before things fall further apart and not one mentioned the role of the US. Ted Belman
What If They Gave a Revolution and No...
UK denies us the right to express ourselves
Europe keeps pressing Israel on being more forthcoming i.e., giving in to Arab demands. It doesn’t want the turmoil in EGypt to stall the peace process or be a game changer for israel. Our concerns should not even be mentioned. Well, too bad. T. Belman
UK to Israel: Drop negative stance on Egypt
Ynet
“Amidst the opportunity for countries like Tunisia and Egypt, there is a legitimate fear that the Middle East peace process will lose further momentum and be put to one side, and will be a casualty of uncertainty in the region,” Hague said in an interview with The Times en route to Jordan.
He added that “part of the fear is that uncertainty and change will complicate the process still further. That means there is a real urgency for the Israelis and the United States. Recent events mean this is an even more urgent priority and that’s a case we are putting to the Israeli Government and in Washington.”
According to the British minister,...
Ted Belman
Jerusalem, Israel
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