Pajamas Media is reporting a disturbing development in the Egyptian protests, the appearance of Mubarak caricatures with the Star of David painted on his image as a stooge of Israel/Jews. It seems that the photos appeared on the German daily Die Welt and other press organs-without any comment.
http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/anti-semitic-imagery-at-egypt-protests-draws-yawns-from-western-media/
Is it not the responsibility of the Western media to point out these photos and what they may mean? Could it be that the media is so sympathetic with the anti-Mubarak protesters that they don't want to comment on this possible anti-Semitic aspect of the disturbances? Is it possible that many press organs have simply snapped the pictures and published them without even thinking of the implications?
8 comments:
So four or five people out of how many hundreds of thousands of protesters are caught holding possibly anti-semitic signs (I say possibly because it depends on how you interpret it and I'd like to know what the text on them says) and this is supposed to be significant... how exactly?
Anonymous,
This just came out today and I am not suggesting that they represent the majority any more than I would suggest that those who told Christiane Amanpour to get out because they hate Americans represent the majority. It is troubling, however, and at the least would be of concern to Israel. I also think it is noteworthy that the media would capture these photos, display them but ignore the symbols.
Not to drift too far, but could you really blame any of them for hating us? Our government has supported the current dictatorial regime politically, financially, and militarily for the past 30 years. The same regime that has been brutally oppressing them. So honestly I wouldn't really hold it against them if they all hated us, not that I think they do.
Anonymous,
We did not create the Egyptian govt. We took it as we found it. Mubarak is no more than a coninuation of Sadat, Nasser, King Farouk and so on. We supported it because Mubarak not only was pro-America, but kept the peace with Israel and kept his country out of war. Your point is well-taken. Personally, I would prefer to get out of the region altogether, but there is reality, you know. Ultimately, these countires have to accept the responsibility for their own lack of freedom and failures instead of blaming it on the US, the West and Israel.
Mubarak has played the game for years of responding to American hints about freedom and democracy by asking "Do you want me, or the Muslim Brotherhood?" With this game of blackmail as his umbrella, he and his cronies freely indulged themselves at the expense of the rest of the population. Now we know where catering to that sort of fear leads -- the people rise anyway when they are fed up, and we don't have any leverage.
It is only natural that those Egyptians who never approved of the peace treaty with Israel will join the massive revulsion against Mubarak while trying to stick their favorite issue into the maelstrom. It means nothing as to what the tendency of the next government will actually be.
Israel is probably still capable of taking back the Sinai, at least for a time, and Egypt has too much invested in development there now to run the risk. Rhetoric is one thing, responsibility for actually governing is another. Sooner or later, people need to go back to work, make some money, pay their bills...
"I found the above photo on Fox News."
Well, did Fox News comment on it at all on the page that you found it on?
Blaming Israel for fomenting the uprising in Egypt or being the root problem, it should be noted, is a recent development as Israel was not even an issue the first 3 or 4 days. Then, those who are obsessed with Israel, figured out how it could conceivably be blamed on Israel.
It should be noted that both Saudi Arabia and the UAE have the same inclination as the Israeli government. They are just as concerned about a Muslim Brotherhood takeover of Egypt. If there were to be a collapse and a new government found right away out of the chaos, then the Brotherhood would prevail. If they held legitimate elections in 8 months, it would give other parties the chance to organize and run candidates. Now the Muslim Brotherhood is more organized than any other party.
This was discussed in today's Wall Street Journal.
Personally, I think the military will eventually call the shots. They are organized and have the weapons.
Interesting takes from Sharansky at
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704150104576122882240386172.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop
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Nobody is blaming Israel for fomenting the uprising in Egypt. That's quite a knee-jerk reflex Miggie. The implication is that those rising up in Egypt are upset with Mubarak because he upheld the treaty Egypt signed with Israel. No doubt some are, just as some Tea Party provocateurs are upset with Republicans who voted to ratify the START treaty - God only knows why. It is highly doubtful that enmity toward Israel would be sufficient motive for the massive sustained protests now visible on TV. There are more vital reasons Egyptians might be tired of their current government.
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