The US “desertion” of its long-time ally President Hosni Mubarak in the face of protests shaking the Egyptian regime has angered Israel, with analysts warning of consequences for the turbulent Middle East.
Until now, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has held back from any public criticism of the US position, to avoid a row with US President Barack Obama.
But Washington’s change of heart towards the embattled Egyptian president has not passed unnoticed in Israel, where the dominant reaction has been one of criticism — in government circles, among analysts and in the press.
I really appreciated how Dore Gold made the comparison between Egypt now and Iran just before the 1979 revolution.
Both times many promises were made about how it would be under new, different leadership.
But we actually have the befores and afters from Iran.
So, why not take a look.
1. BEFORE The religious dignitaries do not want to rule. (Khomeini in exile in Neauphle-le-Chateau France, October 25, 1978).
AFTER Those who pretend that religious dignitaries should not rule, poison the atmosphere and combat against Iran’s interests. (Khomeini on August 18, 1979, less than a year later and about 6 months after his triumphal return to Iran.)
This first bunch of promises to fall – that the Islamic Republic would not be run by Muslim clerics, and Iranians would have political freedom – were aimed at his moderate and secular revolutionary allies. The moderates and secularist of the educated middle classes dominated the cities. Without their help overthrow of the Shah would have been difficult, probably impossible.
Khomeini himself had little use for government by presidents and legislators chosen by free elections. In a Muslim country the government needed only to follow Islamic law to represent the people and have their mandate, since Muslims believed in Islamic law.
2. BEFORE The Islamic government will answer criticism by reason and logic. (Khomeini in exile, November 9, 1978.)
AFTER I repeat for the last time: abstain from holding meetings, from blathering, from publishing protests. Otherwise I will break your teeth. (Threat issued to opponents of clerical rule by Khomeini in Iran October 22, 1979.)
LATER, when the democracy-and moderates realized Khomeini had lulled into complacency, they tried to take to the streets to protest.
(As they had done against the Shah.)
But they soon realized that Khomeini had shut down 26 newspapers and magazines, so no one would report about them.
In Khomeini: Life of the Ayatollah by Baqer Moin, Khomeini is quoted as about these demonstrators:
3. BEFORE The imperialists have also imposed on us an unjust economic order, and thereby divided our people into two groups: oppressors and oppressed. Hundreds of millions of Muslims are hungry and deprived of all form of health care and education, while minorities comprised of the wealthy and powerful live a life of indulgence, licentiousness, and corruption. (Khomeini in exile, January-February 1970.)
AFTER I cannot believe that the purpose of all these sacrifices was to have less expensive melons. (Khomeini July 1979)
LATER, in 1995, 15 years after the Shah was gone, the people’s average wage was 1/4 what it had been under the Shah!
The poor showed their discontent. There were riots against the demolition of poor people’s shantytowns in several major cities, (buildings were set ablaze in Arak and Mashhad) in 1992 and protests by disabled war veterans against the mismanagement of the Foundation of the Disinherited. In 1993 Mobs attacked grocery stores in protest against rise in subsidized milk prices In 1995 a shantytown on the edge of Tehran (Akbarabad) exploded in protest over bus fare increases. Shouting `Down with the Islamic Republic! Down with Khamanei!`30 people died. The Iranians : Persia, Islam and the Soul of a Nation by Sandra Mackey
OK, I hope this does not happen in Egypt.
But the foundation is laid for it all to happen.
The lies by the Muslim Brotherhood are being swallowed by both Egyptians and our people, in media and in politics.
The goals are the same from the Muslim Brotherhood as they were for Khomeini.
Time will tell.
Israel knows that Mubarak was a corrupt tin pot Dictator but that He did keep the lid on the pot regarding Border Issues, Arms Smuggling and Trafficking into Gaza. With Mubarak weakened he is still a SOB, but Israel viewed him as a stabilizing influence. Now they know that the cat is out of the bag regarding Friendship with the US and that any Border issues and stability is at risk. Something that Obama remains clueless about.
What does it tell us about PA president Mahmoud Abbas and his two sons, as well as other senior PA officials and Fatah members that they have all quit West Bank and Gaza to take up citizenship in Jordan?
Just asking.
Weird, though.
Gaza is led by Hamas/Muslim Brotherhood.
Hamas/Muslim Brotherhood kill and kneecap Fatah and PA leaders when they can.
Maybe they see the writing on the wall?
BTW, most so-called ”Palestinians” who live in Jordan cannot get Jordanian citizenship for love OR for money!