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Israel Roots for Real Egyptian Democracy

(Newsweek) Fania Oz-Salzberger - No one, save the Egyptians themselves, would like to see a truly democratic Egypt more than Israel. A real democracy in the greatest Arab nation would be a dream come true. A real Egyptian democracy would never scrap peace with Israel in favor of renewed war. But no one should be more concerned than the Israelis if a less-than-democratic Egypt emerges from the present turbulence. There is a gut feeling in Israel that the protesters are enviably brave, and that their outrage is just. Then why are many Israelis, from pundits to taxi drivers, so concerned about the situation? Because, tragically, the call for freedom might turn into a regional disaster. Already Iran's spiritual leader is hailing Egypt's fervor as an Islamic revolution and telling the Egyptian Army to turn its guns toward Israel. Anti-Mubarak posters show a Star of David on the president's face. If Egypt's revolution is usurped by the Muslim Brotherhood, the emergence of an autocratic strongman far worse than Mubarak will be only a matter of time. The writer is professor at the University of Haifa and Leon Liberman chair in Modern Israel Studies at Monash University.
2011-02-09 00:00:00
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