As cool as relations with Israel might have been during the Mubarak years, Egypt appears to be moving from hostile neutral to active enemy.
First, Egypt is demanding that Israel "pay price differences for reduced gas exported during Mubarak era." OK, so they're strapped for cash and need an infusion. But this is a little more ominous. YNet News:
Former International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei, who had previously announced his intetions to run for the presidency of Egypt, said Monday that "if Israel attacked Gaza we would declare war against the Zionist regime."
In an interview with the Al-Watan newspaper he said: "In case of any future Israeli attack on Gaza - as the next president of Egypt - I will open the Rafah border crossing and will consider different ways to implement the joint Arab defense agreement." He also stated that "Israel controls Palestinian soil" adding that that "there has been no tangible breakthrough in reconciliation process because of the imbalance of power in the region - a situation that creates a kind of one way peace."
Discussing his agenda for Egypt, ElBaradei said that distribution of income between the different classes in Egypt would be his most important priority if he were to win the upcoming elections.
ELBaradei's main competition is Arab League Secretary General and former Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa. Last month he discussed Egypt's relationship with Israel. "During my term in office the foreign ministry was subject to unfavorable policies from Israel with regards to the peace agreement," Said Moussa who served as foreign minister 1991-2001," he said.
It's clear that the popularity of the Muslim Brotherhood is forcing these candidates to move further right - at least in foreign policy and in particular, in their outlook on Israel. How this will play out if either of these gentlemen is elected does not bode well for the Jewish state.
But don't worry. Obama says that things will work out just fine in Egypt because the US is "channeling change" in a positive direction.
Yes, but positive for who?
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