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Egyptian Foreign Policy after the Election
(Foreign Affairs) Geneive Abdo - Egypt's spring revolution was largely directed at Mubarak's failed domestic leadership. But Egyptians were fed up with his foreign policies as well. No matter which party picks up the most seats in parliament, the new Egypt will be less compliant to U.S. demands and cultivate warmer relations with Iran. Egypt's alliance with Washington unnerved the Egyptian public. They felt that their country's standing in the Arab world was slipping, and that Mubarak was to blame. In interviews during a recent trip to Cairo, activists, experts, and candidates from across the political spectrum agreed that Egypt should seek significantly friendlier relationships with Iran and its allies. Among elites and as well as the general public, animosity toward Israel transcends religion and political affiliations. The September attack on the Israeli embassy in Cairo tapped into decades of desire for a dramatic show of Egyptian society's disdain for Israel. The author is a Fellow at the Century Foundation.