Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty

Here is a report that political parties in the new Egyptian democracy are suggesting a referendum on the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty.

Rashad Bayoumi, deputy Supreme Leader of the Brotherhood, told the London-based newspaper Al-Hayat on Sunday it respects international treaties and will leave the issue of the peace treaty in the hands of the people.  The pact was signed by then-Egyptian president Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, but a "cold peace" has set in over the past several years.

“People will express their opinions on it.  All parties can reconsider the treaty and Egyptians haven't yet had their say,” he explained.  “We won't violate the treaty.  We can put it for referendum among people or parliament,” Bayoumi said.

Is that confusing?  The Muslim Brotherhood won't change the treaty, but perhaps The People will.

The Muslim Brotherhood won about 40% of The first round of voting for the Egyptian legislature.  The anti-Israel Salafi al-Nour party won almost 30% (one report has it at a still significant 20%).

One view is that the Muslim Brotherhood will reference the example of the Prophet, who revoked the treaty with the Quraish Tribe and established the doctrine and concept of hudna in Islamic Jihad [warfare to establish the religion of Islam in the world], announcing that treaties are in effect, merely cease fires to allow Islam and the forces of Islam to strengthen and when the time is right, re-engage in the jihad, which is a mandatory fact of Islamic destiny, law and doctrine.

Another view is that Israel is inherently flawed and it should therefore go away.

But, this is politics and the role of the Egyptian Army is key.  The question is, is Egypt still a Mamaluke form of government, with the Army a strong force, or is it becoming a democracy?  As one person put it,

An Army that immediately falls into slavish devotion to the new regime will clearly constitute a much more serious problem for the region (and for Israel) than an Army which maintains some autonomy and distance (and freedom of operation) from the regime.

For the sake of the Egyptian People I am hoping the vote is for peace.  Otherwise many will suffer.  For example, 12% of the Egyptian workforce is based on tourism.  But then the aforementioned Salafists Nouri party thinks the Pyramids are idolatrous and mixed sex beaches should be banned.  It reminds one of the Taliban in Afghanistan, who blew up the Banyam Buddhas.

Regards  —  Cliff