Once more Egypt shows us the way - How Egypt’s Revolution Can Impact Israel’s Future

In November 1977, the then Egyptian President Anwar Sadat made his historic visit to Jerusalem where the very next day he addressed the Knesset stating, “We really and truly welcome you to live among us in peace and security.  This unprecedented move on the part of Egypt set in motion the establishment of Israel’s  first peace treaty with an Arab country and a new reality in the Middle East.  Lest we forget, this courageous move cost the Egyptian president his life. 

Once more it is Egypt which has taken the lead in defining a new reality in the Middle East.  The events in Tahrir Square and throughout Egypt over the past three weeks have just about, if not completely turned  common perception of the Arab world on its head.

The racist and patronising attitude towards the Arab world in the West, which supports the notion that the Arab world is not ready for democracy has been shown to be nothing but that which it is, racist and patronising.  What could be more democratic than the mobilisation of the people on the street in peaceful protest demanding the end to a corrupt and despotic regime and the establishment of a fair and democratic political system.  No, apparently the Arab street is far more ready and judging by the events in Egypt and also Tunisia; deserving of fair and democratic systems of government.  

The Facebook revolutions, as it has been called by several commentators, has taken the world by surprise with the USA and other western nations struggling to play catchup with events.  The bottom line is that the west’s indefensible support of some of the world’s worst and most regimes is now being questioned.  Other regimes in the region must have looked on in horror as one by one Husni Mubarak was abandoned by his so-called western allies and left to his fate.  They are surely now wondering what next for them.

Israel has not fared any better in its reaction to events in Egypt.  Bibi muzzled his ministers, then went on to show his support for Mubarak asking western countries to lower the tone of criticism towards Mubarak.  When then faced with the inevitable all he could do was call for the peace treaty to be upheld by the new regime, whatever that might be. 

The usual suspects have come out and warned of an Islamic revolution and impending doom, however this view is just as shortsighted and racist as the prevailing western views.  For sure the Muslim Brotherhood is a strong political force in Egypt and will no doubt play a role in any future democratic process.  However anyone watching their TV screens since January 25th can see that this is no replay of the Iranian revolution, culminating in the Islamic republic. 

If anything the Islamists were conspicuous by their absence during the demonstrations.  These demonstrations were led by young idealists who want to see true democracy and human rights in their country.  The have no intention of swapping one type of dictatorship for another.  It is also evident that these demonstrations were not restricted to the middle and upper classes of Cairo. with demonstrations involving literary millions of Egyptians from all walks of life taking place all over the country. 

For sure there is now a host of unknowns and there is sure to be a struggle for power in the new Egypt.   However, the genie of democracy has most definitely been let out of the box in the Arab world with major ramifications for the region.  A new and ultimately better Middle East has been set in motion and is sure to have wide-reaching implications for Israel.

Israel needs to welcome and indeed embrace these changes and send a message loud and clear to the Arab world that it welcomes the demise of corrupt and oppressive governments in its neighbourhood, and that it fully supports the rights of the Arab people to democracy and human rights. 

To add weight and indeed credibility to its support, Israel must lead by example and afford the Palestinians these very same rights.