Egypt declares Camp David accords with Israel 'not a sacred thing'

[bemildred]

Egypt's prime minister triggered angry consternation in Israel on Thursday after declaring that the historic Camp David accords underpinning peace between the two countries were "not a sacred thing".

Dramatically heightening tensions during an increasingly volatile time in Israel's relations with the Arab world, Essam Sharaf's suggestions that the 32-year treaty could be revised prompted disbelief in the Jewish state.

"The Camp David agreement is not a sacred thing and is always open to discussion with what would benefit the region and the case of fair peace," Mr Sharaf told Turkish television. "We could make a change if needed."

Coming just days after an angry mob stormed the Israeli embassy in Cairo, Israeli officials said they were staggered more by the timing of Mr Sharaf's comments than their actual content. "Less than a week ago, we had the problem with the embassy," an Israeli official said. "I don't think a responsible prime minister should say things like that."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/8766724/Egypt-declares-Camp-David-accords-with-Israel-not-a-sacred-thing.html

[Jefferson23]

1. Clearly, Israel does not appreciate "heat"...such is life for top dogs being confronted. n/t

[hack89]

2. Considering all the US economic and military aid Egypt gets

as a result of those peace accords, they best tread carefully.

They are second only to Israel in US aid - about $2 billion a year.

[Jefferson23]

3. I believe they understand their finances quite well. n/t

[hack89]

4. I am not willing to make that assumption

they are just trying to stay one step ahead of a pissed off mob that has not seen their lives get any better. They are in survival mode.

[Jefferson23]

6. It is not an assumption Egypt knows their finances, you think they forgot?

Issues arrive and citizens of Egypt are concerned for their econommy and stability...not one or the other.

[hack89]

7. It is an assumption that they fully understand the risks or the consequences of their actions. nt

[Jefferson23]

8. Again, I'm not sure what makes you think they're clueless on this subject...but ok. n/t

[hack89]

9. Lets see - 48, 67 and 73

there seems to be a blind spot in Egyptian leaders when it comes to rational decisions viz-a-viz Israel. The best thing to ever happen to them was signing that peace treaty. Hopefully they are not so stupid as to tear it up to please the mob.

[Jefferson23]

10. According to you the best thing that ever happened to them was the peace treaty, let's

be clear on that point at least. Any measure to change that status would be just that, measured. So before anyone gets hysterical about recent
events they should keep some of the intentions of the peace treaty in mind.

snip* Former U.S. president says Camp David Accords he helped forge contained a basis for Palestinian autonomy, and if that doesn't exist, it's due to Israel's stubbornness.

snip* "I think because of Mubarak's willingness to maintain the peace agreement with Israel , the Palestinian issue was not treated as though it was important. But the people of Egypt have always believed that the treatment of Palestinians was more important than Mubarak did, and now they are putting pressure on the new government to demand that Israel accept its responsibilities under the Camp David Accords."

http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/week-s-end/jimmy-carter-to-haaretz-recent-cairo-protests-threaten-israel-egypt-peace-treaty-1.380815

[hack89]

11. That's fine - but real peace in the region depends on that treaty

there hasn't been a real war in 40 years. One thing is for certain - a Palestinian state will not be the result of war.

There is nothing about this threat that makes a Palestinian state more likely. It upsets all existing frameworks for talk and replaces them with what? A clearer path to war?

[Jefferson23]

12. I just finished saying to you BEFORE anyone gets hysterical about recent

events...

Some think it may lead to war, I am not convinced the Egyptians are suicidal, not at all. I am concerned
about the poison money the Saudi government has put into Egypt..no fans of the Arab Spring regarding their
elections.

[hack89]

13. There is no rational reason for the comments and threats being made

considering a long history of spectacular strategic blunders by Egyptian leadership, I don't understand your confidence in their abilities. The only thing they have done right in 60 is that peace treaty - now they are threatening to unilaterally change it to placate the anger of the mob. There is no way you can spin this as rational policy making.

[Jefferson23]

14. I'm not spinning anything, you may want to read the OP from Carter to

better understand their concerns. I already expressed my main concerns for Egypt..their elections.

[classysassy]

18. A real war

What do you call when one nation invade another and murder their citizens?It was not a picnic on the Nile.It was aggression and murder aka war.

[hack89]

19. I am talking about a conventional war on the scale of 67 or 73 that involves all the Arab countries.

Arabs don't go to war without Eygpt - they have the largest military.

[classysassy]

16. Egypt should sell its soul for money?

Maybe the bribe is not big enough,neither Israel or Egypt should get foreign aide as long as we are in dire straits.

[hack89]

22. No - just that there will be significant consequences

many of which will be unanticipated. They are tugging on the tiger's tail - it is a dangerous game both domestically and internationally. They have a long history of serious strategic blunders - poor judgment and messing with peace treaties is a bad combination.

[King_David]

5. Egypt's downward spiral into Anarchy continues nt

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[King_David]

21. Yea yea it's always the Jewish States fault

No matter what happens .

Your views and credibility on this topic are clear.

[aranthus]

15. Well yeah. It's a treaty.

If the Egyptians think that war with Israel is in their best interests, then they are free to go to war. And Israel would be free to hand the Egyptians their heads.

[azurnoir]

20. the treaty can be adjusted without being obliterated

the apparent hardline either or that I am seeing here speaks quite loudly as to whom the Israel Egypt treaty favors

[hack89]

23. You can unilaterally "adjust" a peace treaty.

without undermining the trust that makes it effective. Any changes must be negotiated and agreed to by both sides.

[azurnoir]

24. well ya but what if Israel refuses? then there should be intervention

and I would have to look up the accords but there may already be such a clause in the treaty

[hack89]

27. Intervention by who?

you can't force a country to accept changes to a treaty. The only other option would be to tear it up.

[aranthus]

25. True. I was giving the extreme case.

Where Egypt could abrogate the treaty all by itself, and suffer the consequences. Modification would require Israel's agreement. There are trade aspects to the treaty, and things like that get modified all the time by re-negotiation.

[bemildred]

26. Israel summons Egypt ambassador over conflicting peace treaty remarks

The Foreign Ministry summoned Egypt's ambassador to Israel to a meeting on Friday morning, in order to clarify remarks made by Egypt's interim Prime Minister that the Israel-Egypt peace treaty should be revised.

A source in the Foreign Ministry said that Foreign Ministry Director General Rafi Barak requested clarifications over the remarks, especially considering previous contradictory remarks made by the Egypt's military council that the peace treaty should be preserved.

During the meeting, Barak told Egypt's ambassador to Israel, Yasser Rida, that Israel was not satisfied that the Egyptian youth who took down the flag from Israel's embassy in Cairo last week is being presented as a hero in Egypt, despite the fact that this act is against the international treaty to which Egypt is a signatory.

Tensions in Egypt-Israel relations heightened last Friday, when hundreds of Egyptian protesters broke down parts of a protective concrete wall outside the building housing the Israeli embassy in Cairo. During the attack, a protester pulled down the Israeli flag from the embassy building.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-summons-egypt-ambassador-over-conflicting-peace-treaty-remarks-1.384911

[Jefferson23]

28. Look at that, states can talk...good. n/t