Israel Matzav

With Egypt turning to Russia, Western diplomats accuse Israel of 'undercutting' Obama

Violence continued in Egypt on Saturday, as the Egyptian army attempted to shut down the Muslim Brotherhood. The Egyptians are so frustrated with the Obama administration that they are sending a diplomatic mission to Moscow, possibly signalling the undoing of a 35-year alliance (Hat Tip: Weasel Zippers).

As the situation in Egypt escalates, a source with very close ties to the Egyptian government tells Breitbart News that the country is preparing to send a diplomatic mission to Russia. While the Obama Administration sends conflicting messages about the conflict, Russia, China and Saudi Arabia have issued strong statements in support of the government's crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood. America's influence in the region is waning.

"They're terrorists," the source told Breitbart News in reference to people protesting in support of the Muslim Brotherhood. "They have machine guns, they have weapons...Hamas and other outside groups are pushing guns to them. Where is America?"

Breitbart News has also learned that Russia is offering the Egyptian government fighter jets and other military equipment. This week, President Obama announced that the US is suspending its planned joint military exercise with the Egyptian army. It seems the Russians are jumping in to fill the void left by the Americans.

"Sadat threw Russia out of Egypt," the source told Breitbart News. "Peace came from that. If Russia reenters Egypt, they reenter the world."

It's not just Russia, China and Saudi Arabia who are supporting the Egyptian army. The New York Times reports that Israel is quietly supporting the army as well, and that 'Western diplomats' are accusing the Jewish state of 'undercutting' Obama's efforts to rein in the army.

The Israelis, whose military had close ties to General Sisi from his former post as head of military intelligence, were supporting the takeover as well. Western diplomats say that General Sisi and his circle appeared to be in heavy communication with Israeli colleagues, and the diplomats believed the Israelis were also undercutting the Western message by reassuring the Egyptians not to worry about American threats to cut off aid.

When Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, proposed an amendment halting military aid to Egypt, the influential American Israel Public Affairs Committee sent a letter to senators on July 31 opposing it, saying it “could increase instability in Egypt and undermine important U.S. interests and negatively impact our Israeli ally.” Statements from influential lawmakers echoed the letter, and the Senate defeated the measure, 86 to 13, later that day.

Israel has been trying to stay out of the mess in Egypt - that may soon no longer be possible, at least verbally. Haaretz reports that Prime Minister Netanyahu's cabinet had a two-hour session about Egypt on Friday afternoon.

A senior Israeli official said that Israel's policy is to keep as low a media profile as possible regarding Egypt. Netanyahu reiterated that ministers and governments spokesmen should not discuss events in Egypt with the media.

Nearly 800 people have died in four days of violence, 173 just on Friday, with over 1,200 injured across the country.

You have to wonder how another President, who was not sympathetic to the Muslim Brotherhood, would have handled this situation.... Oh wait, if there was another President in Washington, Hosni Mubarak might still have been in charge in Egypt. Looking for Obama to start blaming Israel for his utter failure in Egypt in 3...2...1....

Labels: Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Barack Hussein Obama, Binyamin Netanyahu, Egypt, Egyptian army, Egyptian Revolution, Mohammed Morsy, Muslim Brotherhood, Russia

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:13 AM