Sunday August 28, 2011

I've Been Thinking:

Despite all the press - internet, radio, TV and traditional print media filled with screaming headlines that Egypt was pulling their ambassador from Israel, the Egyptians cannot and will not pull the ambassador.

An official recall of an ambassador is a very serious diplomatic statement. It usually means an end to relations as they were and it means that a diplomatic downgrade is in the works.

The Egyptian press pushed the story. But within a day it was clear that the ambassador was not going home and the official foreign ministry press releases never even mentioned the possibility of a recall.

Recalling the ambassador to Israel would be a setback to the peace deal between Israel and Egypt and it is not in Egypt's best interest to scuttle the peace deal.

There is however popular support to demonize Israel.

The result is that Egyptian leadership maintains a schizoid stance when it comes to Israel. It must permit the vehement anti-Israel propaganda and vitriol. And it must also reach over and continue working with Israel on mutually beneficial projects.

This is all part of what it means to be the new Egypt.

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