Israel Matzav

Can Egypt be saved?

Jennifer Rubin writes that the likely postponement of Egypt's September elections creates hope that the country may yet not fall to the Islamists. In all of this, the role of the Egyptian military is critical.

In a speech last week, Israeli ambassador Michael Oren emphasized the extent of military-to-military contacts with Egyptian officers and the degree to which Israel relies on Egypt’s military to maintain obligations under the Israel-Egypt treaty. Abaza shares this view, observing, “It is now up to the military to help in leveling the political ground by delaying the elections and supporting the idea of a constitution first.”

There was and remains legitimate concern about the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. But the argument that removing Mubarak meant handing the government over to the Muslim Brotherhood has not proved correct. At least not yet. The United States and other Western powers would do well to concentrate on helping Egyptians to foster their civil, secular institutions rather than fanning hysteria that Egypt is on the brink of falling into the Islamist camp. The more time we devote to the latter, the greater chance it becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy.

Given the polls out of Egypt and the positions of the likely candidates for the Presidency, I have little hope that Israel's relationship with Egypt will be the same once the military relinquishes power.

Labels: Egyptian regime change, Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:33 AM