The result of the Egyptian presidential election was finally released this weekend, with Dr. Mohammed Mursi named as the president-elect, to be sworn in later this month. Though internally there remain serious questions about what powers, if any, the president will actually have, the results have already sparked a shrill, but extremely mixed reaction out of Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement insisting that he expects Dr. Mursi to abide by the Mubarak-era peace deal, adding that he “respects the outcome” of the vote.
For other officials, including former Israeli Ambassador to Egypt Zvi Mazel (who more recently became famous for condemning Swedish religious figures as “anti-semites“), the vote was an opportunity to introduce the latest existential threat to Israel. Mazel blasted Mursi, accusing him of plotting the destruction of Israel and claiming Mursi had openly pledged to “conquer Jerusalem.”
The claims stand in stark contrast to the actual, real quotes of Dr. Mursi, in which he insisted peace with Israel would continue “on the basis of mutual respect” and that he would never declare war on anyone except in the case the other side attacked Egypt first. This is moot at any rate since last weekend the military junta issued an edict granting itself exclusive power to declare war.
But while Israeli officials are talking out of both sides of their mouths on Egypt, people in the Gaza Strip seem universally thrilled with the outcome, expressing hope that Mursi’s election would eventually mean a reopening of the border crossing and by extension a dramatic improvement in the Gaza economy.
Oh what a "revolution" it was!
Many were killed and many more maimed – for nothing.
Now the intrepid "revolutionaries" confront a titular Islamic president with the army, the seat of power under Mubarak, still the seat of power and still controlled by the US Empire. There are lots of lessons here – no victories but lots of lessons.
The same illusions about the state infect the Occupy movement. The Occuparians and the Tahririans would do well to consider the libertarian view of the state or the view espoused in State and Revolution, pretty much the same. Then there might be a few more victories over the Empire – and less needless slaughter.
My comment was only 240 wo0rds. I have seen much longer comments by MOJO and others.
you will soon be banned from antiwar! you must not complain!
Big deal!!!!!!!!!!!
Netanyahu said: “… That he expects Dr. Mursi to abide by the Mubarak…”
Why so? And why does he think the Egyptians went through all that trouble to get rid of Mubarak?
As far as Mr Murse is concerned, we will have to wait and see what he does. As an old adage in some foreign language goes: 10 scores of words is not as good as half of an action.
If he’s not a power grabber and is not going to get in bed with the military, then we can say that he’s a people’s president. In that position he should try to solidify his power gradually and fill up government positions with other revolutionaries.
If the junta –which we know is backed by all the reactionary forces, including the US/NATO/Israel/Arab states and all their spy agencies– tries to block him, he should call for a referendum, and as a true representative of the Egyptian people declare that all junta’s previous decrees are anti-revolution, thus null and void. The sooner he does that the better when the revolutionary fire is still burning.
If he’s not proactive, the junta will blame him for all the ills that Egypt is drawn in, and stage a coup, supposedly to save Egypt. Mr Mursi has a very rough and uphill road facing him, and with all the forces arrayed against him, he needs God’s help in addition to that of the people.
Rich ruling class — Not all that bad
Billionaire Mursi, and the military junta that owns a large selection of multinational corporations, they are all of the rich ruling class, the 25% most wealthy and they will no doubt work in perfect harmony as their fake democracy and counter-revolution unfolds. Leastwise that is what I have been prophesying here in a multitude of comments and for two weeks running.
Take the way that the laboring-class has been handled, the impoverished and uneducated lower half of society. For one of the first things the military junta did after taking power was to increase minimum wage from $2 a day to $3.40 a day, a 70% increase. Still a powerless and impoverished existence, but still a great reduction in their misery.
Hopefully there will be a real revolution in egypt. Not this fake one orchestrated by the US. A real revolution will entail SCRAPPING the treasonous peace treaty, having powers delegated to the people through representatives, not through the military, AND, being more islamist since that is what they people down there are. You should have a turkey 2 scenario or a Iranian scenario. The US should tread lightly, because they risk having the worst possible outcome (for them) if they continue the path they are on.
I have been counting the days for the last decade and some…… to see the back of the man who betrayed the Palestinians, time after time after time… and again….. But I have NO illusions that his replacement Dr. Mursi will represent "his people"……… He could turn out to be another Trojan Horse like our wonderfull Prez. "O"… and hiz troup of Trokan Whores….. They talk the talk…. but they DON'T walk the walk…… Perhaps we will get early clues from Dr. Mohammed Mursi the same way we got an early clue of future actions from Obama when he appointed war promoter [and probably hyper-Neocon] Rahm as head of staph….. and to pod like infect the U.S. government and the American people with his virulent Zionist Supremacism…… A trip to Google leads me to believe Rahm, is a dual citizen of both the U.S. and Israel….. and so he is NO Trojan horse,…… his successful candidate "O" is…. Ram is out…………… So watch for troubling signs in Egypt like the 1s we have suffered here in the former land of the free…..!!!!!! Watch who he appoints, not what he says…………….
Its chance to bring Unity amoung people from Egypt, Turkey and also Iran…I dont believe Mursi wants to interduce strict "shariah law". Fanatism of this kind exists only in Israel as “halakha law” — meaning religious law — it is actualy Zionist fundamentalim. Egypt will take the "road of democracy" and must resist destabilisation from US/Israels Zionists….I keep fingers crossed for Egypt people peter czech
The road away from tyranny is a long one. Tyranny does not give up power easily. It will therefor be a gradual process. A new parliament will be elected, and if the results of that election turn out as before — and why should they not? — then the process will begin, with many a twist and turn I have no doubt.
The youth of Egypt — the next generation — are smart, energetic, and riding modernity to their destiny, which they do not see as bending over for the geriatric remnants of the Mubarak era. We shall see.
The difference between Turkey and Egypt is that Turkey's military was the protector of the Attaturk revolution, whereas the Egyptian military is the protector of the old order and opponent of the "revolution".
Egyptians will now have to get rid of Pentagon military imperialism in Egypt by ending US control of their military. The sooner the beter – for both Egyptians and Americans.
Making Repression Our Business
The Pentagon’s Secret Training Missions in the Middle East http://www.tomdispatch.com/archive/175479/
As for the Israelis, the sooner we end their corruption of American politicians the better.