Mubarak Loses Bedouin Smuggler Support

Time Magazine reports that Bedouin smugglers opposed to the Mubarak regime now control the two Egyptian towns that are closest to the Gaza Strip. The towns are not named, but we have heard reports relating to both El Arish and Rafah over the past few days.

And a prominent Bedouin smuggler in the Sinai peninsula told TIME that Bedouin are now in control of the two towns closest to the Gaza Strip, and that they planned to press on to attack the Suez Canal if Mubarak does not step down. He also said that police stations in the south Sinai would be attacked if Bedouin prisoners were not released.

And in Israel, the IDF may not have a Chief of Staff in two weeks, because Defense Minister Barak's candidate for the position has been accused of perjury.

What could go wrong?

Labels: Ehud Barak, El Arish, Gaza-Egypt border, IDF Chief of Staff, Philadelphi corridor, Politics, Rafah, World Politics, Yoav Galant

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:04 AM

Is Syria Next?

Is Syria the next Arab domino to go? Syrian activists have been using Facebook to call for a 'day of rage' against the Assad regime on Saturday, February 5.

In the past week, Syrian activists have been using Facebook to call for mass protests in Syria on Saturday, February 5, 2011, dubbing it the "Day of Rage." In Facebook pages created specifically for this purpose, members have called on the Syrian public to take to the streets on that date and stage peaceful demonstrations and rallies in all parts of the country, as well as in front of Syrian embassies in Arab and European capitals, in protest of the oppressive Syrian regime. These Facebook pages also feature images and videos slamming Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and supporting protest against his rule.

The organizers of the Syrian protests have expressed support for the demonstrators in Tunisia and Egypt, and have adopted their methods:[1] opening special Facebook pages on which information is posted regarding the place and time of the planned protests, and creating a special profile picture, associated with the protests, to be used by all Facebook members sympathizing with the cause. However, it seems that the scope of their activity is limited compared to that of the Tunisian and Egyptian activists. So far, the number of people who have registered as members on these Facebook pages is relatively small, and some of the members reside outside the country.

Among those promoting the "Day of Rage" protests is the Independent Islamic Bloc – part of the "Damascus Declaration" opposition movement – which has called upon Syrians to attend a "sweeping protest and mass rally" in front of the Parliament house in Damascus on February 5. In its announcement, the organization praised the protests in Tunisia and Egypt and warned the Syrian regime against continuing its oppression, corruption and political arrests.[2] Websites have also published a message by "the Popular Committees in Aleppo Province" announcing a February 5 protest rally in the center of Aleppo, the second largest city in Syria.[3]

The organizers of the planned demonstrations in Damascus and Aleppo have listed their demands: an improvement in living standards, respect for human rights, freedom of speech for all Syrian citizens, and greater influence for Syrian youth. They requested that the protesters come equipped with nothing more than Syrian flags and signs expressing their demands.[4]

Syria is on the alert for the possible spread of protests to its territory. On January 29, 2011, the Syrian authorities prevented the holding of a demonstration in solidarity with the Egyptian protesters in front of the Egyptian embassy in Damascus, fearing a conflagration.[5] It was also reported that Syrian security chief 'Ali Mamlouk has met with province governors and police commanders in order to prepare for possible protests in the country.[6]

There are conflicting reports regarding the accessibility of Facebook, which has played a crucial role in mobilizing the public for the current wave of protests in the Arab world. According to a January 25, 2011 report on Alarabiya.net, the Syrian authorities have restricted access to Facebook in a bid to keep the protests from spreading to Syria, but some users are managing to access the site through proxies. [7] The Syrian news agency SANA has denied this, saying that access to the Internet is unrestricted throughout the country.[8]

Read the whole thing. The problem is that Assad is liable to just gas them all.

Labels: Bashar al-Assad, Facebook, Politics, Syrian regime change, World Politics

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:32 AM

Egyptians Begin to Blame US & Israel for Woes

Egyptian protesters have begun to blame the US and Israel for propping up the Mubarak government.

Egyptians understand that the world is waiting to see if President Hosni Mubarak falls to popular pressure before major leaders decide which side to support. But this is infuriating the demonstrators, who realize that six days of unrest have not accomplished their goal and that they need united international pressure in order to topple the almost-30-year incumbent.

The protests have lacked a clear leader to unite them and provide an alternative to Mubarak, and demonstrators are beginning to focus their wrath not just on Mubarak and the country’s widespread corruption, but also on the United States and, to a lesser extent, Israel. They blame Israel and the US for supporting a government because it is convenient for them, not because it is good for the Egyptian people.

“The USA does not support democracy; they’re supporting Israel, which is like their baby,” said Ahmed, a 26-year-old Cairo resident. “They think Egypt is functional because it’s in favor of their considerations.”

“I don’t care if we have peace [with Israel] or not,” Ahmed continued, echoing the indifference of many demonstrators who don’t have a clear agenda for what they want a future Egypt to look like, as long as it does not include Mubarak. “But will Israel allow us to have a real president? For example, Turkey elected an Islamic government, but it was their choice. Will Israel give us the freedom to make the same choice?” he asked.

Demonstrators are relying on the foreign press to get their message to Obama.

“Isn’t this democracy?” they asked me over and over when I said I was a journalist from America, incredulous that the country held as the pinnacle of world democracy could ignore such widespread popular sentiment.

“Obama has to be on our side. Where is your democracy?” asked Osam L, who works at a foreign bank in Cairo.

“You say Arabs are just donkeys, but the USA is supporting the system, not the people.”

The Jewish community in Cairo and Alexandria both declined to speak with the media, but told The Jerusalem Post that all of its members were safe and going about their daily routine as normally as possible.

I think that's what's called realpolitik, and no, it doesn't always lead to the most moral outcome. But if they're going to make war with us, I won't support them either.

Labels: Barack Obama, Cairo demonstrations, Hosni Mubarak, Politics, realpolitik, World Politics

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:42 AM

You might like:

* ElBaradei arrested in Egypt? :: Israel Matzav (this site)
* The 'Palestinians' look for a scapegoat :: Israel Matzav (this site)
* Maybe you can fool some of the people all of the time :: Israel Matzav (this site)
* Scenes From The Middle East Protests 2011 (CNBC)

(Selected for you by our sponsor )

2 Comments:

At 7:34 AM, Blogger NormanF said...

My view is increasingly the regime will ride out the storm. The protesters have to eat sometime and work for a living. What the Egyptians lack is a charismatic figure like the Ayatollah Khomeini to rally around. ElBaradei just doesn't excite them. Mubarak will be gracefully eased out after the protests end and my guess would be that Suleiman or some acceptable figure not tainted by a close association with Mubarak will become the country's next President.

At 8:42 AM, Blogger biorabbi said...

Disgusting. Alexandria has been a hotbed of anti-semitism from before Christ! That says something.
It is about secularism versus Islamism. Do you think many of those young brave souls who protested the Shah in 1979 wanted something far different than the Imams? The secular movement in Egypt is limited to a few thousand westernized elite. The masses want the Muslim Brotherhood... and they will get it.

I hope Israel is planning a plan b. Plan b is what will Israel do when Egypt abrogates the Camp David Accords. If they cut off the gas and introduce the military into the Sinai and/or aid Hamas, Israel should retake the Sinai or portions of it. That's plan b.

And another point about Obama fiddling when Mubarak burns... who's next-Jordan or Syria?




Name: Carl in Jerusalem
Location: Jerusalem, Israel

Egypt Protest Degenerating into Supremacist ROT

The messages were troubling, and Islamic supremacists and their leftwing knob polishers set about to alter the narrative. Their objective is to turn this desire for political freedom into an anti-American, anti-Israel putsch.

Egyptians filled the streets in front of the office of the Consulate General of Egypt in Chicago shouting their support for the protesters back home. Also at the United Nations in New York there was a large rally. The people were carrying signs that said, “Down with Mubarak”, “Down with the Camp David Regime”, ‘Egypt is Free”, and “Egyptian Blood is our Blood”. (more here)

But if you look at the demonstrations in New York, Chicago and such........you will see the infiltrators trying to transform the movement into an ugly, Muslim supremacist, Jew-hating movement.

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/files/egypt-intifada-1

Egyptian protesters promise to destroy Israel

Looks might ugly. And getting uglier. As crappy as that peace accord was, it was .... peace. If all bets are off, does Israel get her land back?
If protesters intend to attack Israel, how will they replace the Aswan dam? Can Egyptians survive for 938 years in a radioactive slag heap?
Over one half of Egyptians suffer from birth defects including mental illness and retardation.

Egyptian Protesters Dump Israel Peace Treaty

Hundreds of people across America marched in solidarity, praying for freedom cravers (and those brutalized Coptic Christians slaughtered by the Muslims) in Egypt. Many good people stand in solidarity with those seeking to live free. Here are some scenes down the block, in front of the UN, in New York City -- Saturday. "Long live the Egyptian intifada." And "Down with the Camp David Peace Accords!" That screams volumes.

A Dead Enemy is a Peaceful Enemy

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