By YoramGetzler. For the sake of a successful Egyptian revolutionary change to Democracy: I was particularly surprised and disappointed by the recent presentation at the J Street convention by noted Egyptian columnist & Middle-East commentator Ms. Mona Eltahawy.
She emphasized to the great delight and satisfaction of all present; the powerful and popular fantasy connection of the Egyptian masses to the Israel Palestinian impasse. Ms. Eltahawy repeats the popular mantra that has been distracting Egyptians and other Arabs for more than sixty years; that connects the situation of the Palestinian community at the head and heart of the militant demands of the Arab and Egyptian peoples.
In point of fact it is just this false connection / myth, that has been a contributing factor in detracting the various Arab people from confronting their true suppressors, the dictatorial rulers they have learned to support and live with, not coincidentally so long as they expressed sufficient sympathy for the Palestinians and aggressive militancy towards Israel. And lets not forget investing tremendous proportion of their national wealth and resources in perusing and endlessly preparing for the next war with Israel.
I was surprised that Ms. Eltahawy would agree and support this contribution to the destructive political reality that her Egyptian friends and relatives have suffered from. I think a statement more to the point of what the Arab masses are really trying to create, a better more fulfilling life for themselves is: That Arab yearning for democracy and an end to their oppression by their fellow countrymen will not be realized so long as “hatred for Israel” works to distract them from their true oppressors.
Then too, there was a recent op-ed by Thomas Friedman, “This is just the start” referring to the unknowns at work in the process currently being being experienced by the people of these Arab nations. He also suggests some of the subtler less noticed contributions to this new Arab spirit of revolt was inspired by aL-Jazaara’s reporting on several just concluded scandals in Israel in which top echelon individuals were called to order for their previously privileged behavior.
What is critical at this moment, is to continue moving forward with one eye on the rear view mirror. Were we able to really open our eyes and minds, we could then see the artificial use of Israel in the suppression and repression. of the broad community of Arab citizens of the various corrupt regimes. We should point out how Israel was used to distract and re-direct the unhappiness and disappointment away from the oppressive governments that ruled, onto the “other”, a tiny enemy state that was a convenient focus for the peoples concern and anger.
The Egyptian, Libyan, Yemeni, Iranian, Algerian people will not be truly free to create their own futures until they disabuse themselves of the distracting compulsive emphases on the on-going plight of the Palestinian Arab people.
We should be aware and if possible inform them of the dangers of returning to Israel-hatred and bashing as the cause of their problem or a solution to their powerless plight.
A major/significant determining factor in any successful desire for change and empowerment on the part of the Arab peoples will be their ability to correctly and accurately determine their true enemies, and confront those elements truly contributing to their oppression.
So we ask: Will solving the problem of the Palestinian people really enhance the lives of the hundreds of thousands of Egyptian university graduates who can not find work commensurate with their education?
…and exactly how would that facilitate the equatable distribution of the nations resources, whether in Algeria, Libya, Egypt or Bahrain.
