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Decoding Egypt: The broken wings of Egypt's propaganda machine CAIRO: Since the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza, the official Egyptian propaganda machine has been working at full capacity, but what it has produced is a mixture of sheer lies and half-truths. There is a political and moral imperative to evaluate the basic arguments of that machine. 1. Hamas is responsible for the war Hamas was the result of the lingering Palestinian-Israeli conflict, not the cause of it. The clock of Egypt’s propaganda machine, however, started ticking on Dec. 19, 2008 when Hamas rejected an extension of the truce with Israel if its unjust conditions are not amended, particularly the lifting of the blockade imposed on Gaza’s 1.5 million Palestinians. Israel’s aggressive intentions need no elaboration; it had fought the Arab world five times (in 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973 and 1982) and occupied the land of four Arab states (Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt) before Hamas even existed. Today’s offensive is reminiscent of the invasions of Lebanon in 1982 and the West Bank in 2002 waged to demolish the PLO and the Palestinian National Authority respectively. Israel’s target has always been the obliteration of Palestinian resistance, irrespective of the banner it raises. The moral and political responsibility of the current aggression lies primarily on Israel, whose war machine has brutally bombed civilian quarters in total disregard of international law and human rights conventions. Moreover, it is highly questionable that Israel would not have carried out its attack had Hamas agreed to extend the ceasefire. Besides, the current aggression is an extension of the so-called truce, during which Israel had turned the Strip into the biggest concentration camp on earth, and deprived it of basic food and medicine supplies. Nevertheless, Egypt’s insolent propaganda machine blames the victim and is satisfied with directing meek condemnations at the assailant who would have carried out the attack in all cases, driven by a military doctrine premised on aggression and expansion and internal political ambitions that thrive on Palestinian blood. 2. Egyptian diplomacy is doing its best to stop the Israeli aggression Egypt’s diplomatic reaction to the war on Gaza has been, at best, cold. It is interesting to note that on the day following the start of the Israeli offensive, the Egyptian President contacted one foreign head of state: the King of Bahrain Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa. If the conflict-rich Middle East resembles a jungle, then Bahrain — the smallest Arab nation — would be the jungle’s harmless ant; and ants do not have any leverage over elephants. Any student of international politics knows that any serious diplomatic effort to stop the aggression would have approached Washington, and major European and Arab capitals that can make a difference in the Middle East. Egypt remained aloof for the first days of hostilities. President Mubarak’s first statement came on the fourth day of aggression and its diplomatic effort commenced only after Israel had started its ground operation. Furthermore, Egypt has not been enthusiastic about the idea of convening an emergency Arab summit. One could also wonder why the sale of Egyptian gas to Israel continues uninterrupted. Verbal condemnation and humanitarian relief is all Egypt could do in the face of the slaughter in Gaza. An article appearing in The Middle East Times a few years ago carried the title: “Egypt Slips from Powerbroker to Event Planner.” Inspired by the current crisis, the title could be rephrased to “Egypt Slips from Powerhouse to Ambulance.” 3. The Rafah Crossing is subject to an international treaty that Egypt must respect In response to mounting popular pressure on Egypt to guarantee the permanent opening of the Rafah Crossing, Egyptian top officials contend that the treaty signed in 2005 by Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the European Union to regulate the Rafah Crossing is binding to Egypt. Thus, the gate will remain closed, except for the treatment of humanitarian cases. Contrast the Egyptian regime’s absolute adherence to this insignificant treaty which it did not even sign, with its domestic disregard for the constitution, laws, and basic principles of human rights. Contrast that posture also with the number and intensity of Israeli violations of international law, human rights conventions, and Security Council resolutions over six decades. In the period between 1967 and 2000, for example, Israel had been the subject of 138 Security Council resolutions. Most of these resolutions called on the Jewish state to end its occupation of Arab land and to act in accordance with the basic principles of international law. Israel flouted them all. The reason why a treaty that encroaches upon Egypt’s sovereignty and that aggravates the human tragedy of Gaza’s population is so revered by Cairo is political, not legal, namely destabilizing the rule of Hamas in Gaza and emboldening its rivals in Ramallah. 4. Hamas is totally under Iran’s control Hamas receives political and financial support from the Islamic Republic of Iran, but that does not necessarily mean that the former is a stooge of the latter. First, Iranian financial support to Hamas has been minor. Shaul Mishal, professor at Tel Aviv University, says: “I don’t really see Iran stepping forward and filling the gap for Hamas as far as money is concerned, and whatever assistance is provided will certainly have many strings attached — perhaps too many to make it worthwhile, for the amounts of money we would be talking about.” Secondly, sectarian differences and Hamas’ inclination to ward off outside influence propelled it to put Iran at arm’s length. Anat Kurtz, a scholar of Hamas at the Israeli Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies, explained that Hamas is, first and foremost, “a nationalist organization — it is Palestinian before being radical Islamist. Too close an affiliation with Iran could undermine its goal of establishing itself as the leading actor in the Palestinian political scene.” Another Israeli scholar, Meir Litvak, argued that Hamas “might like some kind of beneficial partnership [with Iran], but subordination — never.” 5. Egypt has always served the Palestinian question Egypt staunchly supported the Palestinian cause in the few decades following the loss of Palestine and the establishment of the state of Israel. But when Egypt’s rulers saw a contradiction that could not be reconciled between its national interests and its pan-Arab commitments, they opted for the former. The product was Egypt’s separate peace treaty with Israel in 1979 that neutralized the strongest and most populous Arab country, thereby depriving the Palestinians of their only stalwart Arab ally. The argument that “Egypt has always served the Palestinian question” is clearly used to tickle chauvinistic feelings, but it is not scientifically accurate. Obviously, to thwart supra-state identities (such as Islamism and Arabism), the Egyptian state has opted for reviving nationalist Egyptian feelings. 6. The Egyptian officer killed by Hamas militants is a martyr Perhaps. But what about the Egyptian soldiers who were killed by Israeli fire across the Egyptian-Palestinian border? In the period between 2004 and 2008, at least eight Egyptians were killed along Egypt’s border with the Gaza Strip. They were buried in silence, no reverence, no attention. In contrast, heroes are made of the Egyptian victim of Hamas; prime media time is generously offered to highlight the agony of the deceased’s loved ones and a military funeral is held in honor of “the brave officer who was safeguarding Egypt’s sacred land.” In other words, Egyptian bloodshed at the hands of Israeli Apachi helicopters and F-16s is cheap and neglected. But hostile Palestinian bullets are an opportunity to legitimize Egypt’s antagonistic stance toward Hamas and mobilize people against it. Double-standards reveal hypocrisy and reflect policy too; the crimes of Israel are forgiven because Israel is an ally, Hamas is a foe. No wonder the Israeli commentator Zvi Bar’el wrote in Haaretz that following the Egyptian media gives the impression that the real war is between Egypt and Hamas, not Israel and Hamas. President Mubarak spelled out his intentions when he told a European delegation that “Hamas must not be allowed to win,” a statement which the regime was quick to deny. The bloodbath on Egypt’s doorstep is a reminder that Israel comprises the real threat to Egypt’s national security, not Hamas. But the strategic calculations of the nation have been overshadowed by the narrow interests of a ruling elite. Nael M. Shama, PhD, is a political researcher and freelance writer based in Cairo.
By Nael Shama
First Published 1/14/2009
Submitted by Cherifa Sirry on Tue, 2009-01-27 04:18
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As for point 6, once again, this highlights a simple and most glaring fact: The MEDIA IS THE BIGGEST MASS MURDERER in the world.
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Let's take an underground view at the events surrounding Egypt as far as Palestine specifically and the region in general. These points are listed besides Egypt's maneuvers and machinations to retain its most favored Arab status with the EU & US and continue receiving billions of dollars of aid as well as immunity from overt Israeli aggression on its soil--less surreal, subtle and secret Israeli encroachment on the sovereignty of Egypt.
Foremost, Egypt founds its stand partially on the pillar that espouses Israel will not be allowed to relinquish its legal responsibility as the occupying force of Gaza and dump it wholesale onto the Egyptian polity. Note that the Jews constantly put forward the contention Arabs in general and Egypt in particular shirk their responsibility to Palestinians insisting Arabs amd Egypt should do more to alleviate the suffering the siege that Israel has imposed causes--even to the point of offering Palestinians citizenship and free them for refugee status and suffering.
However, this explanation falls on death ears in light of Egypt's refusal to open the crossing to offer the people of Gaza a means to escape the slaughter visited upon them by the Israeli death machine. All of Gaza were hemmed in with no where to run hide or escape as the incessant bombing continued apace.
Another unspoken expression Egypt actively uses to exculpate itself from charges of collusion with Israel and the west states that it is not helping Israel oppress the Palestinians when one considers the tunnel network on the Rafah border, which have gone unassailed by Egyptian forces when preclusions are within its power to effectuate. Why haven't the Egyptians shut down the tunnels on its side of the border when it obviously can? Good question and the better answer is obviously clear. The Egyptians have not totally abdicated their implicit mandate to succor Gaza. Egyptian officials have been wise to leave symbolic mechanisms for all to see in its proclamtion as the defender of the Arab world. Note that official closure of Rafah is necessary as a diversionary and legal edifice against charges on the tunnels by Israel and her stooges around the world.
Moreover, the strong rebuke by some Arab sectors against supposed Egyptian resignation over Gaza serve to support the dynamic of negative-action chosen by Egypt to give a sense that it is indeed helping Gaza. Unless one believes Arabs are a bunch of idiots there is no other purpose for these condemnations of Egypt except to offer it political camouflage and support for continued clandestine aid to Gaza--these were psychological incursions into the fray of bolstering Gaza's resistance. So Egypt would have us believe.
Truth of the matter is there was more outrage on the part of Latin American governments than in the Arab world. Venezuela and Bolivia were early in their condemnation of the Israeli massacre and took steps to expel Jewish emissaries to their contries as persona non gratta. While Mauritania and tiny Qatar did cut ties with Israel, Jordan who retrieved its diplomatic corps from Israel has already returned them to the brothels of Israel.
Therefore, it is imperative to understand the relationships that nurtured such muted responses from Arab governments in the face of so much Israeli horrors visited upon the civilians of Gaza. Breaking or blocking the sources of this relationship would seem key in any correct address of this outrage.
After the promulgation of UNSC resolution 1860, which ultimately envisioned a sort of tunnel vision and arms sanctions against Hamas with Egypt as the nexus. Here again, Egypt was the controlling factor: Having refused international troops on its soil and refusing US & others passage rights into its territorial waters to carry out munitions search and destroy missions. These Egyptian steps have left Israel with very few viable steps to augment its squeeze on Hamas leaving it to the futility of causing sonic booms over Gaza in anger.
These may be the imminent manifestations of these Egyptian steps. Still, when one looks deeper we continue to find Israel with complete control of Gaza's land, sea and air while Egypt will continue to keep Rafah closed. Even if Rafah were to be opened either with a unity Palestinian force on the Gaza side or wholly Fatah administered--since Egypt has insisted it will only open the border if Fatah returns -- Egypt would continue to limit the flow of goods in lieu of its fear of Israel dumping Gaza on them-- Egyptian governance. There will be little change in alleviating the dire condition of Gaza residents and providing them with the necessary products of daily life as far as the Rafah crossing is concerned.
Egypt has bought into pressuring Hamas at the expense of the ordinary people of Gaza -- in effect a collective punishment by fellow Muslims just next door.
The geopolitical millieu within which Egypt operates necessitates clever and unconventional means however, ruse and obfuscation by the Mubarak regime may not be allowed to leave a perception of feel good measures that would only serve to further isolate Gaza.
That Egypt is cowering to internal pressure from the Muslim Brotherhood and cowing to antecedent fears from Hamas' stout ideology and religiosity on its border is undeniable. That Egypt is a stooge of western imperialism in without doubt.
Egypt is certainly attempting to maintain a political duality involving a slither of light toward the Palestinians by allowing the tunnel network and supplementary "smuggling" trade to continue. Note that the majority of the tunnel traffic consists of ordinary goods for everday life not arms. The other personality of Egypt seeks to project a stable and reliable western and Israeli ally, which serves them to maintain national power and international aid.
The point here should not be to either condemn Egypt as a single entity in this sordid affair on Gaza and Palestine in general. Rather we should highlight how a plethora of Arab states cling to a geopolitical western machine that serve to stymie the voice, will and life of Muslim populations. These police states are trained, armed and financially supported by the west to maintain this vile order. Egypt must be seen in the context of this regional and global endeavor by Israel and the West. From Pakistan to Iran Muslim states are targeted for either covert sabotage or overt destruction so that Israel will remain the preeminent power in the Middle East and to maintain free reign along with the West throughout the world and in outer space too.
Excellent analysis...