Egyptian Travails Not a Function of Accord

"For Egypt, Promise of 1979 Peace Remains Unfulfilled"; By Michael Slackman; 6

The discontent of certain sectors of Egyptian society with the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli Accord is a result of the Israeli offensive in Gaza, argues Michael Slackman. But although the Accord mentions the goal of Palestinian autonomy, it is an agreement between Israel and Egypt and has nothing else to do with Israeli-Palestinian relations. The anger many Egyptians feel toward Israel is familiar, as Muslim solidarity generally expresses itself in this fashion. When the prospect of incorporating Gaza into Egypt, however, is discussed, Egypt rejects the notion, showing the shallowness of brotherly love.

The Accord is also a source of resentment, according to Egyptians, because it initiated “Egypt’s decline,” an extreme view, disconnected from reality, that has gone mainstream. Slackman misleads readers into thinking that somehow this extreme view is justifiable. The ills of Egypt – poverty and authoritarianism – are independent of the Accord.

To be sure, the non-connection between the Israeli offensive in Gaza and the Accord and between authoritarianism and poverty and the Accord, may be why Slackman does not quote from it directly.