Egyptian Circumspection in case of Gaza

Munir Ahmed Khalili

A state of status quo in the states around it had always been in Israel’s interest. Timid and toady rulers in its neighbor, mostly in good books of the Americans and tied up with secret bargains with Israel, had seldom proved to be a headache for the Zionist state. Their attitude of never causing a big trouble for Israel was enough to win American backing and Israel’s favor for their stay in power for decades. Cool breezes of ‘Arab Spring’ starting from January 2011 had soon changed into stormy winds crashing four strongly built castles of despotic rule in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen crashed into a heap within a year. Zain El Abidin Ben Ali, Hosni Mubarak, Muammar Qaddafi and Ali Abdullah Saleh were gone. From North Africa to the Arabian Peninsula several countries were experiencing jolts of changes. A big crumple was visible in the status quo. In almost all of the four countries seriously affected by the ‘Arab Spring’ Islamists committed to their religious faith had come in power.

 Israel was upset because it saw no more possibilities of submissive giving in for it in speedily occurring circumstances, as used to assured by the previous regime, particularly in Egypt. Ideological closeness of the newly established governments in Tunisia and Egypt with Hamas, the most formidable challenge for Israel, was a distress for Israel. The same Islamic revolutionary winds had started striking against thick walls of Bashar el-Asad’s palace in Syria. Israel was immensely frustrated in this situation.

Most recent aggression of Israel against the Gazans is actually just to test the Muslim Brotherhood government in Egypt how and to what extent it espouses militant activities of Hamas. Dr. Morsi, after taking the charge as head of the state had very carefully drawn the lines of his internal and external policies. He wants the democratic system get firm footing, letting not come about anything damage to the fragile democracy established after almost six decades.

Saving the phenomenal spirit and physical shape of revolution, bringing harmony and unity in the social and political spheres, solving the problems of people, creating a sound law and order situation and ensuring a thriving economy are things taking a high place in Morsi's priorities. The parliament having majority of Muslim Brotherhood and its like minded elements was dissolved by a judicial decree a little after its coming to existence, thus the president is working without any substantial backing of parliament. Secular elements, including the adherents of deposed ruler Hosni Mubarak, still prove a hurdle for the government. Even in the religious camps, Salafi and Sufi factor fails not in turning out to be troublemaker. Scrupulous steps taken by Dr. Morsi so far show that he wants not stir up any hornet’s nest.

In this state of affairs Dr. Morsi is not in position and not wise for him to do something overplaying his part in help of Hamas against Israel. In the past Egypt played the role of a mediator between Israel and PLO and later for last several years it has been doing doing the same between Israel and Hamas. Past might have not seen the spirit of deep sympathy and honesty which, now on the pretext of close ideological relations between the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, is believed to be but it is the foremost thing, in the current situation, possible to do.

On one hand president Morsi has the top preferrence ahead to try his best for effecting an urgent agreement to stop mass killing of the Palestinians in Gaza and on the other hand to convince the world powers to bridle the belligerent designs of Israel and force her to come to a durable peace deal. The civilized world has to define the limits of ‘self-defense’ of any country. The rocket firing from Gaza started only after the head of Qassam Brigade was hit by Israeli missiles. Have the people of Gaza strip, located on the eastern coast of Mediterranean Sea, bordering Egypt on southwest and surrounded by Israeli forces from the east and north, completely a besieged piece of land, not the right of getting defended from Israeli combativeness?

 If might, in this era of history when Western nations acclaim to the most civilized communities, is still right, then blame not Taliban, who have pushed the super power with its NATO allies into hot waters, to be the terrorists. Taliban are also trying for getting admitted right by the power of their muscles, after all they are at the brink of kicking their mighty enemy out of their country.