If only Egypt and the Arab world really wanted to create a better Middle East

Submitted by Ken Besig (Israel), Jan 30, 2008 at 03:31

If Egypt and the rest of the Arab world wanted to create a more economically progressive, politically democratic, and economically profitable Middle East, they would immediately claim soveriegnty over the Gaza district, explain to the Hamas leadership there that from now on they would take their orders from Cairo, and all armed activity against Israel must stop or there would be mass arrests and imprisonments of Hamas officials.

But of course Egypt and the rest of the Arab world have no such interest, indeed, they see and want to use Gaza and the Judea and Samaria Palestinians as a weapon against Israel per se, as well as a weapon against the liberal and democratic policies of the West which Israel represents. Egypt and the Arabs don't want too much trouble, but just enough to serve their interests, that is, keeping Israel off balance and on the defensive and the rest of the world focussed on Israeli policy and activity as the cause of all the suffering, political repression, and poverty in the Arab world.

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