Israel worries privately as Egypt descends into chaos

[azurnoir]

Israel's public line on Egypt is clear -- it wants "stability and security in our region," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday morning, acknowledging that Israel is "anxiously monitoring" what's happening in the first and most important Arab nation to make peace with the Jewish state.

<snip>

U.S. President Barack Obama's statements about the situation "put a lot of pressure on the regimes in the Middle East" and showed "a lot of disrespect" for Mubarak, said Avidar, a political analyst and a former Israeli envoy to Qatar. "The American administration does not understand the culture of the Middle East."

"Democracy can be created only if you have the right institutions and the right society to absorb (it)," Avidar said. "Otherwise you will have radical extreme groups like the Muslim Brotherhood that will take over in no time over Egypt."

The Brotherhood, Egypt's largest -- but officially banned -- opposition movement, does not appear to have started or organized the protests sweeping the country but called on its members to join them starting Friday.

Avidar said the protests in Egypt have leaders of other pro-U.S. Arab countries "concerned about what will happen if demonstrations take place in their countries." "What will be the American position at that point? And I believe that they cannot count on the loyalty or friendship as they did before," Avidar said.

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/01/30/israel.egypt.reax/index.html

[KeepItReal]

1. I saw reported if they had elections, the Muslim Brotherhood would get 1/3 of the vote at best

No way they represent the majority of Egyptians.

[David__77]

2. I think they would lead any government.

If that is the will of the Egyptian people, then no foreign country should interfere. It is clearly the most popular single political force.

[azurnoir]

3. It seems that ElBaradei is just a tad popular too n/t

[David__77]

4. We will see.

I see him as a potentially transitory figure. I don't think he has deep roots among the masses of people. He is certainly a favorite of certain monied sectors and foreigners, however, and that may make all the difference.

[azurnoir]

5. In the event the Muslim Brotherhood does take the reigns in Egypt

would you support a Gaza style blockade/isolation of Egypt? MB is reputedly a branch of Hamas

[David__77]

6. I don't support such a blockade, no.

Not of sovereign nations. It is also likely that a new state in Egypt would make in nearly impossible to maintain such a blockade against territories on its border.