Opinion
Egypt isn’t our friend
Avi Trengo
Published: 07.05.10, 14:00
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1. Egypt has never been our friend and its actions are indeed
Jehudah Ben-Israel ,   Qatzrin, Israel   (05.07.10)
taken only based on Egypt's interests. And if it were in Egypt interest and ability to wipe Israel off the face of earth now - note, it has never accepted Israel's RIGHT to exist, only the FACT that it does - Egypt would gladly do so.
2. Of course Egypt defends their interest! All countries do it.
John ,   Rio   (05.07.10)
This is what every nation does! As this is what israel should do. The problem is when politicians only see the short term interest of the country, instead of the long term. Which, in the case of Israel, is ending the occupation, making a peace deal with its neighbours and having the opportunity to fully develop the country
3. Why does Mubarak never visit Israel.
Peter ,   UK   (05.07.10)
Friends usually visit.
4. ISRAEL HAS THE RIGHT TO EXIST
RUKENA ,   UK   (05.07.10)
and Israel does exist...as a kurd i support Israel long live Israel (kurdistan will also exist)
5. Should have kepted the Sinai
Ralph Levy ,   USA   (05.07.10)
Should have kept the Sinai.I was in Israel in 73 too much blood we got nothing in this peace treaty. http://ralphsrant1.blogspot.com
6. More whining
Mikesailor ,   Miami, FL   (05.07.10)
So, Egypt is not your 'friend'. Poor baby. Since when has Israel been anyone's friend? Or is your definition of 'friendship' only go one way?
7. It is Islamist interests that Egypt represents not Egyptian
Michael Hess aka BS ,   Charlotte, NC   (05.07.10)
The basic Egyptian interest is to have close relations with Israel because this will greatly benefit their economy, agriculture, culture, international standing and improve the lives of their citizens. Islamist interest runs contrary to being good loyal friends with infidel Israel and currently and for the near and long term this is the prevailing trend in Egyptian society. They care more about what a pedophile madman of 1400 years ago instructed them to do than what is good and decent for their lives in the present. Michael Hess aka Matty Groves aka BS
8. Dear Avi, just wait until Mubarak is dead...
Jake ,   USA   (05.07.10)
...and you will see how good a friend he has been. For political reasons, he can't cozy up to Israel, but he has been as good a friend as any Arab leader can be, without being assassinated.
9. To # 6 Mikesailor.
Aldo ,   Tiberias, Israel   (05.07.10)
Presumably you are the type to have "one in every port" so its hard for you to understand the real meaning of the word , "friend".
10. The Egyptian People deserve better than Mubarak.
Salma ,   Palestine   (05.07.10)
Despite the numerous observations to us as Palestinians, the role of Egypt these days, but we can't deny that Egypt has played in supporting the Palestinian cause for many decades...As for Rafah crossing issue," Israel" as an occupying force is totally responsible for the closure of the border gates linking it to Gaza and also bears the full legal responsibility - according to international law - for the wellbeing of the citizens under its occupation... Yes Gaza is still under occupation, to become truly free only with the following points: 1. The Palestinians must control over their borders,and full control over their territorial waters 2. We have our own airport, without interference or control of one of 3. Liberated the rest of the Palestinian territories, for we can't be a part of our homeland free from occupation, and the other part ghettos and pockets scattered here and there, and there is no self-respecting people could accept that part of the homeland is suffering while he is not interested in ! This is enough to Gaza to become Free , and without that Egypt and the world, especially of international law will always recognize that Gaza still under occupation Finally, 80 million in Egypt, will be for them one day a strong word in all what happened and is happening, it's a matter of time
11. # 6
Israel Forever ,   Israel   (05.07.10)
You are one sick old frustrated bitter excuse for a man. Get a life.
12. Avi Trengo is a racist with a short memory
Smith ,   TA, Israeal   (05.07.10)
We should send infiltrators back to Egypt? Hmmmm sure does remind me of a certain attitude adopted by several government authorities in the 30's..... Or does Avi Trengo's memory only go as far back as 1968? Avi Trengo prefers the "peace" along the Syrian border? What an idiot. Thanks to the cold peace with Egypt we have been able to scale down defense spending and stimulate our economy during the 80s. This freed up resources to suppress the first and second intifada. Could you imagine how thinly stretched we would be if we still had several combat divisions in the South??? Sheer idiocy and racially motivated ignorance Trengo writes here! The fact that Trengo seemly envisions Israel's future as a fortress is a sad fact. We will have peace with high walls, eh? No movement between the borders? No state can survive like that for long. There is no such thing as the everlasting citadel.... look at how many times Jerusalem has been razed.........
13. Egypt has a much improved military capable of turning ...
Ron B. ,   Lod   (05.07.10)
Egypt has a much improved military capable of turning hostile words into hostile deeds. Although Israel has a peace agreement with Egypt, that country has continued to reject implementation of virtually all the “normalization” provisions that were part of the Camp David peace accords, and Egyptian government-controlled media are even more incessant and more rabid in their anti-Israel and indeed anti-Semitic drumbeat than they were before the “peace” agreement. The Mubarak regime still finds it useful to deflect domestic discontent by focusing public attention on supposed external threats and by demonizing Israel and, in fact, the United States as well. An inevitable consequence has been intense public hostility in Egypt toward both nations. In addition, Egypt has a much improved military capable of turning hostile words into hostile deeds. Yet Israeli officials are silent on all of this and insist on characterizing Egypt as a “moderating force” vis-à-vis the Arab-Israeli conflict. We should be prepared as explained at : http://xrl.us/biz8x
14. The Arabs of Gaza.
Ron B. ,   Lod   (05.07.10)
Oft-forgotten is the fact that the refugee problem was not caused by Israel but by the Arab states. The Arab states encouraged the Palestine Arabes to leave their homes temporarily in order to be out of the way of the Arab invasion armies. Today, 60 years later, It would be fair for Egypt to accept the Gazan Arabs and integrat them. The truth is described at : http://xrl.us/bkj57
15. Welcome to the Middle-East, every Israelis, every minister,
Genuine Moshe   (05.07.10)
every PM know Egypt play is a double word game. But it would have cost us too much to take the Eyptians to their words. But worry not Gaza is increasingly becoming an Egyptian problem. It is a matter of time before Egypt needs to extend its rules over Gaza.
16. is'nt enemy, either
observer   (05.07.10)
Egypt has never been a signatory of the Rafah Crossing Agreement. It was Israel, P.A. and EU who signed the agreement. Not objecting to the agreement, does not mean the Egypt endorses the agreement. So, the excuse of blocking humanitarian aid for more than two years at Rafah crossing has no basis. On the other-hand Egypt has been hindering the efforts in preventing genocide & delivery of humanitarian aid; against the "jus cogens" status which supersedes the international law. It's flagrant case of breaching the peremptory norms. Egypt is doing so for not losing American friendship, the one will de-nuke Israel!
17. To Salma #10
Avi Trengo   (05.07.10)
I fully support the rights of the Palestinians in Gaza to have their own sea port. Having a sea port is not precondition to ending the occupation. The Occupation of Gaza ended in 2005 (and was briefly reinstated and withdrawn in 2009) Gaza has an open border with Egypt. Israel does not control this border and you know full well that the border is sometimes closed because Egypt - not because Israel. It is really none of Israel's business what Gaza and Egypt do as long as weapon is not smuggled into Gaza. That is the only thing Israel should monitor (on the sea routes into Gaza Harbor) Until such harbor is build Gaza should use Al-Arish port in Egypt as entry for Goods (via Rafah terminal). All border points with Israel should be closed. FREE GAZA ! you have my full support. PS if you really care about Gaza start lobby Egypt for more area south of Gaza (in Rafah and toward al-Arish. Gaza is very populated and running out of space. Surly you don't expect Israel to take responsibility for the problem that Gaza population growth is creating. Gaza multiply every 19.5 years (world record)
18. Government and People.
Ayman ,   EG   (05.07.10)
If you are talking about the Egyptian government, it's probably Israel's best friend in the Middle East (compare it to all the other governments). If you are talking about the people, the majority of the Egyptian people consider Israel to be the ultimate enemy and they want to see it destroyed. However, there are still some intelligent people in Egypt who consider Israel a friend.
19. Egypt is not Israels friend
yousef ,   palestine   (05.07.10)
wwoow who is your real friend ? in politics there are no friends and no foes . there are interests, wake up and lul the kids .
20. EGYPT ONLY GOAL WAS THE SINAI - NOT PEACE!
PERIOD!   (05.07.10)
21. Who really wants to be "Israels" friend
Marco   (05.07.10)
No free state really want to be a friend of an entity that occupy, rape, annex, kill, murder, demolish and steal. In order to get friends , Israel should fulfil the requirements of friendship and neighbourhood. Stop violate international laws , stop the occupation of Palestine, let the Palestinian refugees go back to their homes, give back Alguds (Jerusalem) to the real owners, give back southern Lebanon , Golan heights to the Syrian and Lebanese. Stop your hostilities and provocations against Arabs and Muslim, and surely you will find friends
22. To Marco 21
Avi Trengo   (05.07.10)
What refugees ?
23. :: Jehudah - #1 Israel has no right to exist
Matty Groves ,   Fairport   (05.07.10)
Poor Jehudah, each day Jehudah trots out the same lies and BS which he can never back up with facts. In this case Jehudah pretends that Israel (as a nation) somehow has a ‘right’ that no other nation has. This BS that Israel has a ‘right’ not only to ‘exist’ but to ‘exist as a Jewish nation’ is purely a figment of Jehudah’s imagination and every time this crud is spewed on these threads I shall correct it. To repeat again: NO NATION HAS A ‘RIGHT’ TO EXIST. Nations either exist or they don’t – it is that simple. I have of course asked Jehudah the following question: where is this 'right to exist as a Jewish nation' enshrined? Naturally Jehudah can’t answer this question as it is NOT based on international law nor any law that any nation (Arab or otherwise) is bound by. I would also add that Egypt and Jordan were NEVER asked to acknowledge such a fairytale ‘right’ when they signed their treaties with Israel.
24. :: Gaza Smuggling Tunnels
Matty Groves ,   Fairport   (05.07.10)
Has anyone else read the reports that the Gazans have already breached these new underground metal barriers?
25. 2 SMART PEOPLE ALREADY WARNED ISRAEL THEY ARE NOT FRIENDS
......DACON9   (05.07.10)
1) MOSES 2) JOESPH It's all in the TORAH, READ IT sometimes with a competent orthodox Rabbi ONE THAT IS UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED AS COMPETENT
26. took you long enough! of course not. we should realize we ow
ralph   (05.07.10)
owe them nothing and should not be surprised when they attack us, punch us and one day point their guns at us.
27. Who does not know that??
JO   (05.07.10)
Egypt is only interested in itself and it's security. It has never been a friend of Israel but as long as it is in it's interest , it will always cooperate in border matters ( and then denounce Israel at every turn) It takes no responsibility for Gaza whom it ruled with a rod of Iron for a long time.
28. Salma, your bottom line tells all about
Vardina   (05.07.10)
your people's skills: natural multiplication. No qualification nor education are required for that, only basic beastly instincts.The results are obvious: masses of uneducated primitive people doomed to poverty and beggary. No real achievements to be proud of. Here you are too, threatening to eliminate Israel through the natural multiplication of your mobs. You have no means of feeding those hosts of useless offsprings, so your people go out to commit murder and robbery in addition to begging the whole world to support you because you are so poor, miserable and deprived. Instead of mass multiplication you should try to become useful and use birth control means. You all are able to support 2 children. The world does not have to finance your irresponsible sex habits.
29. Gooooood Moooooorniiiinggggg!!!!!!!!!!
Gilad   (05.07.10)
30. :: Vardina - #28
Matty Groves ,   Fairport   (05.07.10)
Before you show your racist ignorance about the Palestinian People you would be best to direct your energies towards the likes of the Haredim, illegal settlers and lower economic Israelis. The Haredim will gladly suck the morrow from Israel’s coffers and offer nothing back in return except weekly riots and throwing acid on ‘immodest women’. If anything these throwbacks to a more primitive time when people butchered animals to their gods are restricting Israel economically while living in their fanatically religious bubble. The illegal settlers cost the Israeli state a fortune and yet are only notable for their perverse delight in attacking innocent Palestinians and destroying their homes and farmland. Apparently ‘stoning the Palestinian school children’ every week has been a favorite pastime for Israeli settlers for decades. Aside from terror attacks on civilians and producing children taught to hate Arabs the illegal settlers aren’t know for their contribution to the Israeli state. The lower economic Israelis (Generally Palestinian-Israelis, N African immigrants/etc, “They-are-not-Jews-but-we-need-the-numbers” Jews, etc) are generally discriminated against and treated as second class citizens thus cannot contribute fully to Israeli society and treasury. Vardina I would suggest you remedy your own social maladies before you start handing out condoms in Gaza and the WB.
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