Posted on 01/01/2009 9:39:58 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
CAIRO, Jan 1 (Reuters) - Ezzat Abdel-Rahman says Palestinians are suffering "great injustice" at the hands of Israel but they should have followed Egypt's lead and long ago made peace with the Jewish state.
He also says Egypt should not open its border with Gaza to let Palestinians flee the six-day Israeli assault, as demanded by Hamas militants and many Arabs.
"This could get Egypt into trouble with Israel," said the 42-year-old, who runs a shop selling shoes in central Cairo. "Israel could accuse Egypt of smuggling weapons into Gaza and dump the problems of Gaza on Egypt."
Despite the fiery rhetoric of Islamists and activists who demand strong action against Israel, many average Egyptians say they do not want the country dragged into another Middle East conflict, in rare agreement with a usually unpopular government.
Many say Hamas militants, who rule the Gaza Strip, could have avoided the attacks that killed more than 400 people if it had stopped firing its ineffective rockets at Israel.
"Hamas is acting against the Palestinians," said Mohamed Kamal, also a central Cairo shopkeeper, and one of a dozen Cairo residents interviewed by Reuters this week. "There is no reason for firing rockets. What are they hitting anyway?" he said.
Others said Hamas was acting with Iran and Syria, its main two supporters, to undermine Egypt and drag it into a conflict with Israel.
At a women's hairdresser, a worker was arguing with a customer that Egypt, has done enough for the Palestinians, a widely shared view among Egyptians.
Egypt, the most populous Arab country and once seen as the bastion of Arab nationalism, fought four wars with Israel between 1948 and 1973. In 1979, it became the first Arab country to make peace with the Jewish state.
(Excerpt) Read more at alertnet.org ...
I agree. there’s plenty of empty land over there.
Sounds to me like a lot of Egyptians are afraid of Israel.Wonder why that is? :)
i hope those peace-loving guys didn’t use their real names, otherwise they might not have their head in the future.
dubai has a lot of money, why don’t they start an infrastructure and investment program in “palestine” so that they won’t live in “poverty” and have nothing but idle time on their hands.
No one in their right mind wants them. It could be over with tomorrow if the Palis would simply accept the two state solution. As time has progressed since that was first proposed it should be modified to a three state solution Israel, Gaza, and the West bank. The difference in culture of Palis in the Gaza and West Bank regions and split in geography don't make sense for a single Palestine state.
They don't want them! Every place they've ever "settled" they've wrecked. Look at Lebanon. They also tried to overthrow King Hussien of Jordan. The results? Well, look up "Black September," which the terrorist group took as a name for themselves. Interestingly enough, the incident that spawned the name WAS NOT caused by Israel, but by Jordan.
Mark
Nam Vet
Excuse me, Gaza was a perfectly serviceable homeland for almost any other people. If the Palestinians would abandon their fixation on Israel and get on with their lives, this thing would be over today.
I have been to Egypt several times since 1978, most recently in 2006.
Regardless of what their Goebbels-inspired media might say, there is a fair amount of resentment among average Egyptians toward the Arab states who incited war with Israel, then left Egypt to bear the brunt of the fighting.
Every impovershed village has a little marker with the names of local boys who were conscripted into the army and went off to fight the Israelis, never to return.
When the Camp David accords were signed in 1978, the Muslim world rose up as one to denounce Sadat and condemn Egypt. Saudi Arabia (which never bothered to take part in the fighting with Israel) was especially belligerent. This led Cairo comedians to quip that “The Saudis are determined all right, they’re willing to fight to the last Egyptian.”
“What are they hitting anyway?”
If only Hamas were more effective in their murder campaign, they would get his sympathy and support.
There was a joke during the Persian Gulf War about the Saudis and Kuwaitis favorite song: Onward Christian Soldiers.
If the Palestinians had lived in peace with Israel (ie not firing rockets at them) there would be no war. It is Hama’s Fault and the stupidity of the Palestinian voters who were carried away by emotions to vote these clowns into office. You get the government you deserve. The Egyptians are wise to let this pass.
One group of ragheads who, after repeated thrashings by Israel, may have learned their lesson. Now if they could just extend that to Syria, Iran, and the PV (Palestinian Vermin).
agree, too bad the other instigators won’t relocate them and give them their own country, syria, iran, etc.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.