Egypt's changing regional role.
Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh A leading Islamist candidate in Egypt's presidential election has branded Israel a "racist state" and said a shared 1979 peace treaty was "a national security threat" that it should be revised.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Egypt-s-changin...
In a tv debate with his opponent Amr Moussa he described Israel as an "enemy" and "a racist state with 200 nuclear warheads" that continued to pose a threat to Egypt.
Abul Fotouh's rival Amr Moussa has also argued for the revision of the treaty with Israel and described its policies towards Palestinians as an Egyptian "national security issue." His stance on Israel is well known.The shadow caste by the October war in 1973 and the subsequent Camp David 1978 peace accord brokered by President Jimmy Carter,Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin is a long one.
There was always a feeling of disatisfaction and unfinished business in Egypt over an agreement which established a peace which many felt perpetuated a status quo where Israel backed by America continued to benefit and opress the Palestinian people.
Egypt felt vindicated by the 1973 war but effectively lost its leading role in the Arab world. This has rankled with the Egyptian people ever since.
The United States must also be considering its position carefully.Since Barack Obama's famous speech in Cairo to the Arab world there is now no doubt that American influence in the Arab world has declined. America's close relations with the Mubarak regime and its key role in backing Israel now count against it in the eyes of the Egyptian electorate.
America's role in the Egyptian economy is a vital one and the positive role the US can play in economic terms is still very much there, although powerful islamic groups who are in the majority in Parliament seem to have paid the economy scant attention recently.
The Egyptian Army also needs American military aid but the old trade offs regarding Israel may not be as easy for the US as before.
There is no doubt of course that any American President is bound to back Israel and that Israel is still in a strong position.
It is perhaps that Egypt is looking for a future which includes greaterself respect.When the salafists attacked the Ministry of Defence and killed a soldier there was widespread dennounciation because the army(as opposed to the Supreme Armed Forces Council, SCAF)is respected and the influence of the 1973 victory lives on.
The 1979 peace treaty does not allow the Egyptian army is not allowed to station its forces in Sinai is clearly in need of renegotition as Abul Futouh stated in his television interview, if only to counter Bedouin tribesmen who keep blowing up the gas pipeline.
Abul Fotouh rightly insists on this and his anti Israel stance reflects Egyptian public opinion. However as he is associated with the salafist groups who attacked the Ministry of Defence this may count against him in the election. The great silent majority of the electors will have there say.The vast majority of poor Egyptians will vote for the President they feel can guarantee the basics-food and clean water in this country of over 85 million.
One might also reflect that the revolution in Egypt which was brought into being by the young which perhaps should lead to more young people in Parliament and possibly some younger presidential candidates. At the moment candidates are restricted to 40 years of age.
Egypt has always been run by the older generation and some may feel it is time to give the young a chance.
Abul Fotouh's rival Amr Moussa has also argued for the revision of the treaty with Israel and described its policies towards Palestinians as an Egyptian "national security issue." His stance on Israel is well known.The shadow caste by the October war in 1973 and the subsequent Camp David 1978 peace accord brokered by President Jimmy Carter,Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin is a long one.
There was always a feeling of disatisfaction and unfinished business in Egypt over an agreement which established a peace which many felt perpetuated a status quo where Israel backed by America continued to benefit and opress the Palestinian people.
Egypt felt vindicated by the 1973 war but effectively lost its leading role in the Arab world. This has rankled with the Egyptian people ever since.
The United States must also be considering its position carefully.Since Barack Obama's famous speech in Cairo to the Arab world there is now no doubt that American influence in the Arab world has declined. America's close relations with the Mubarak regime and its key role in backing Israel now count against it in the eyes of the Egyptian electorate.
America's role in the Egyptian economy is a vital one and the positive role the US can play in economic terms is still very much there, although powerful islamic groups who are in the majority in Parliament seem to have paid the economy scant attention recently.
The Egyptian Army also needs American military aid but the old trade offs regarding Israel may not be as easy for the US as before.
There is no doubt of course that any American President is bound to back Israel and that Israel is still in a strong position.
It is perhaps that Egypt is looking for a future which includes greaterself respect.When the salafists attacked the Ministry of Defence and killed a soldier there was widespread dennounciation because the army(as opposed to the Supreme Armed Forces Council, SCAF)is respected and the influence of the 1973 victory lives on.
The 1979 peace treaty does not allow the Egyptian army is not allowed to station its forces in Sinai is clearly in need of renegotition as Abul Futouh stated in his television interview, if only to counter Bedouin tribesmen who keep blowing up the gas pipeline.
Abul Fotouh rightly insists on this and his anti Israel stance reflects Egyptian public opinion. However as he is associated with the salafist groups who attacked the Ministry of Defence this may count against him in the election. The great silent majority of the electors will have there say.The vast majority of poor Egyptians will vote for the President they feel can guarantee the basics-food and clean water in this country of over 85 million.
One might also reflect that the revolution in Egypt which was brought into being by the young which perhaps should lead to more young people in Parliament and possibly some younger presidential candidates. At the moment candidates are restricted to 40 years of age.
Egypt has always been run by the older generation and some may feel it is time to give the young a chance.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Egypt-s-changin...