Israel watches Egypt uprising with fear

[Liberal_in_LA]

JERUSALEM — Israel watched fearfully Saturday as anti-government unrest roiled Egypt, one of its most important allies and a bridge to the wider Arab world.

The Israeli prime minister ordered government spokesmen to keep silent. Officials speaking anonymously nonethless expressed concern violence could threaten ties with Egypt and spread to the Palestinian Authority.

The Egyptian unrest dominated Israeli media. Israeli TV news channels provided hourly updates. Israel Radio reported extensively on developments and dubbed its broadcasts "Fire on the Nile."

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fgw-egypt-israel-20110130,0,2398514.story

[DCKit]

1. Meanwhile, the moderate majority in Israel is cheering them on. nt

[BOG PERSON]

2. what moderate majority

[Poll_Blind]

3. There is no moderate majority in Israel. Polls on various issues regularly put...

...moderate opinion in the 40's or below, depending on the topic. The University of Haifa used to do a Survey on Political Extremism every year or two but I haven't seen anything from them on this in about 4 years, IIRC. If you check the Haaretz archives for "Poll", you can spend an entire afternoon with your jaw on the floor.

Israel is dealing with a wave of intolerance on religious, social and racial fronts right now and the voices calling for tolerance being silenced more and more. At this point, there is a McCarthy-esque investigation of Left wing groups for "terror ties".

Knesset To Investigate Funding of Left-Wing Israeli NGOs for Terror Ties

PB

[azurnoir]

4. yes I am sure Israel is quaking in it's veritable boots

over what it may have to do in the event of an uprising in the West Bank or the wrong sort took over in Egypt

[SoCalDem]

5. Actually it may offer a respite of sorts.

Palestinians may be more able to go TO Egypt, if the border is more open.

I'm not sure they want to do this, but I am always seeing stories in the news about how they cannot go to Egypt. If Mubarek's govt fails completely, will the border guards stay put?

of course an influx of more poor people to Egypt will not help their problems, but it could offer a little hope to people who are trapped in place. :shrug:

[azurnoir]

6. actually the border between Gaza and Egypt has been sealed

Gunshots were heard in the Egyptian city of Rafah as Bedouins attempted to occupy the border with Israel and the Gaza Strip. Rocket-propelled Grenades were fired at Egyptian soldiers, witnesses said, causing the near-total destruction of one home near the border area, and damage to a sector of the Gaza-Egypt border fence.

Gaza government police were said to have fixed the breach immediately, while eyewitnesses said police forces deployed across the border area on the Gaza side, in an apparent attempt to prevent Gaza residents from entering Egypt.

Armed groups attacked Egyptian police in the cities of Rafah and Sheikh Zweid, set fire to one police station and were behind the slaying of one officer identified as 36-year-old Jum’a Hamid after he was abducted along with two others, security sources said.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=355252


the border had been open since the Mavi Marmara incident last spring

[SoCalDem]

7. well crap...n/t

[social_critic]

9. Muslim Brotherhood will take over Egypt if Mubarak falls

The US/Israeli puppets running the PA will be out of business. Hamas won the last elections, so they'll get to run things. I suppose this may end up with Hamas linked to Egypt's muslim brotherhood.

The key for Egypt will be to learn the fighting techniques used by Hezbollah so effectively in the last war, which essentially neutralized the IDF's superior tank forces and air power. At the time, Israel was left with the option of bombing civilian areas, and that was about it. If the Egyptians have patience, and they ring the areas offset to Gaza with the same interlaced bunker system and missile launchers used by Hezbollah, the Israelis will have to change their strategy and agree to negotiate honestly.

All this time, the palestinians have lacked an honest counterpart for negotiations, but the israelis may have to change their stripes after they realize their current hardball tactics will lead them to a war they may win, but will devastate their country anyway.

[CreekDog]

8. The powerful are afraid of democratic rule in the Middle East

of course, there would be little to fear had there been a consistent, gradual movement towards democratic rule over decades in the middle east instead of that effort going towards leaders positioning their children to rule in their wake.