Tensions Rise in Egypt, Jordan
The game-changing protests sparked by a fruit-seller's self-immolation in Tunisia are spreading, with more protesters horrifically setting themselves on fire in Egypt, Algeria and Mauritania. In this al-Jazeera video, Egyptian protesters are seen going nose-to-nose with riot police in Cairo:
In Jordan, meanwhile, thousands have poured into the streets to protest the state of the economy ("Bread is a red line") and demand the resignation of the government, with demonstrations reaching the parliament building in Amman. King Abdullah is said to be "very nervous."
In Israel, Netanyahu said the upheaval in Tunisia and ensuing unrest across the Arab world reflect the depth of regional instability and illuminate Israel's need for solid security arrangements in any deal that might be struck with the Palestinians. "We need to lay the foundations of security in any agreement that we make," he said. "We cannot simply say 'We are signing a peace agreement,' close our eyes and say 'We did it' because we do not know with any clarity that the peace will indeed be honored." Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat claims that's a bluff. "If there was a tsunami in Asia, a flood in Latin America or a lunar eclipse, Netanyahu would use it as a pretext not to negotiate," he said.
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Dec '10
Re: Tensions Rise in Egypt, Jordan
Arab's and Persians practice forms of peaceful protest (as peaceful as self-immolation is) against their own government, but protest against Israel and the U.S. with missiles and vests full of explosives. Why? This may seem like a stupid question. It may even be a stupid question, I just find it so curious, that there would be a popular appetite in the middle east for these types of demonstrations.
Re: Tensions Rise in Egypt, Jordan
Beasley, these are early days. We'll have to wait and see how tactics change as different elements rise to the forefront of the various rebellions. Recall that over here, the first intifada in 1987 really was an "intifada" -- a people's uprising, with demonstrations in the streets. There was violence, but it was at the level of rock-throwing, not "missiles and vests." Palestinian leadership made a strategic decision to shift gears toward terror and away from demonstrations in 2000 (rendering the term "second intifada" inaccurate, as Ariel Mayor Ron Nachman pointed out to me recently).
The question now is who will ultimately claim to represent the masses and what tactics they will choose to employ. It's possible that in some locations, that role will be claimed by Islamists (which is why King Abdullah of Jordan, for instance, is allegedly fortifying the palace guard). Islamists do not seem -- yet -- to be a factor in the events in Tunisia, but they will certainly be assessing their chances of jumping on board and changing the narrative to their advantage. These events constitute a major opportunity for them across the Arab world.
Re: Tensions Rise in Egypt, Jordan
With that said, we should be cautious about assuming that all Arab populations are equally willing to allow a power vacuum to be filled by Islamism. Here's an encouraging snippet from an analysis in the Jerusalem Post:
Sep '10
Re: Tensions Rise in Egypt, Jordan
They must be listening to Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin..are they going to be called Chai-baggers by CNN?
Aug '10
Re: Tensions Rise in Egypt, Jordan
Judith Could this be an enormous game changer in ME affairs ? What are the chances of the islamists losing control of the strong horse ? Hezbollah takes a body blow from , all of people , the UN ! They forget and actually do something honest . The State Department , in their scramble to assemble the arabists, suddenly can't rely on Saudi as they're protecting Ben Ali and the loot. They come out on the side of the youth , mistakenly using the old French code. Israel looks around , sees leadership in all axis countries battening down the hatches, reaching out to Mossad for discreet cover and ponders it options . They decide to stabilize Egypt for a tough deal on Palestine borders . Jordan offers up what ? Nasrallah and Khamenei are ostracized to what effect ?
Jun '10
Re: Tensions Rise in Egypt, Jordan
I was there, living on a kibbutz in northern Israel. The assumption amongst the kibbutzniks, a very liberal bunch, was that the intifada was justified. Land for peace would solve the problem.
The second intifada disabused them of the idea that peace was possible. My kibbutz family returned to the United States, essentially as refugees, because their utopian bubble had been popped. The situation for me was the final event in my conversion from a liberal to a conservative.
Aug '10
Re: Tensions Rise in Egypt, Jordan
~Paules
I was there, living on a kibbutz in northern Israel...
Wow, ~Paules, you do get around. Have you written about this in the member feed yet?
May '10
Re: Tensions Rise in Egypt, Jordan
Judith Levy:
If I remember right, it was the immolator in Mauritania who said something about "bread" before silencing himself with gasoline. Is this a purely metaphorical way of complaining about the economy? Or is this about government handouts (food stamps and such), like the protests in Greece?
Jun '10
Re: Tensions Rise in Egypt, Jordan
Midget Faded Rattlesnake
~Paules
I was there, living on a kibbutz in northern Israel...
Wow, ~Paules, you do get around. Have you written about this in the member feed yet? · Jan 18 at 8:26am
Service on an Israeli kibbutz is what young people of my generation did as part of their continental tour. Nothing exceptional about it. The photo to the right is me standing guard on the Golan Heights. Nothing exceptional here either. When you leave the kibbutz in a group, someone has to be armed.