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FOKUS | 5/2014

Palestine in : From Solidarity to Fear to Common Struggle

Stefanie Felsberger

The argument goes that the conflict between economic, social and security problems. Sec­ the Egyptian regime’s interests became ever Israelis and Palestinians is the source of most ondly, I argue that the role Palestine has played closer aligned with those of the Israeli state and social, economic, political and religious conflict in Egyptian politics in the last years is indicative with every accusation the regime positioned in the and that a solution to the of a convergence of interests of the current itself more firmly against the Palestinian people. conflict would therefore bring peace to the war- Egyptian regime, its supporters in the Gulf, the torn region. West and . Thus, the old argument that Also events surrounding the Egyptian revoluti- fulfilling the Palestinian struggle for justice will on were closely informed by these geopolitical Today, any connection is being pushed to the solve many of the region’s problems holds more realities. The Palestinian struggle was for many margins: the official Saudi Arabian newspa- weight today than ever: the struggle for justice activists the one issue which politicized them per even claims “there is no more Israeli-Arab in Palestine cannot be achieved without a simul- and solidarity protests during the Second Intifa- conflict.”1 The Egyptian government started taneous fight for economic, social, political and da taught many protestors strategies and tools constructing a buffer zone on the Gaza border religious rights in the surrounding countries of mobilization.6 But criticizing Egypt’s policies without facing uproar. Egypt in general seems which tacitly condone or openly support Israel’s towards Israel had also been an enabling factor to have become fiercely anti-Palestinian and policies and atrocities. for the opposition as a whole.7 Furthermore, one during the latest round of Israeli aggression core demand of the uprising was dignity – per- against Gaza Arab governments merely showed Contextualizing Palestine in Egypt sonal but also collective dignity: meaning, the superficial support for Gaza;2 worse, also the Egyptian government was regarded as caring populations in the surrounding Arab states de- The position of the Egyptian state towards Pa- more about the needs of the United States and monstrated weak support. The question is why lestine has varied greatly – from vocal support Israel than for its own citizens. Liberating Egypt it seems that any solidarity with the Palestinians to anti-Palestinian propaganda. But regardless from these foreign pressures was also a moti- has disappeared in Arab states. of how the different Egyptian regimes have vator for demonstrators. The Egyptian regime portrayed Palestinians, Egyptians remained during and before the uprising continued to use Instead of accepting that there is no connection surprisingly supportive of Palestine and deeply Palestine to externalize threats: in January 2011 between the struggles of the Palestinians and antagonistic towards Israel.3 This indicates an the Alexandria Church bombing was blamed their Arab neighbours, I argue that these strug­ instinctive feeling about connectedness of their on and later demonstrators on Tahrir gles are closely connected and that obscuring common fight. Square were denounced as Hamas agents and the link between them is a deliberate attempt to Palestinians.8 hide the common interests of those actors who Anti-Palestinian propaganda in Egypt was deny Palestinians’ their rights as well as those started under President Anwar al-Sadat after After Mohammed Morsi from the MB was elec- who suppress their neighbouring populations signing the Camp David peace accord with Is­ ted President, the anti-Palestinian propaganda – and of course their international allies. These rael in 1978. Egypt became an ally of the US and grew more baseless and harmful: rumours were connections, common interests and the resul- Israel and replaced its pan-Arab ideology with spread that the stifling power cuts in Egypt ting convergence of the different emancipatory a fiercely chauvinist and anti-Palestinian Egypt- were caused by Morsi transferring too much struggles are what I address in this paper. I First nationalism.4 This trend only intensified electricity to Gaza. The allegation that Morsi specifically focus on Egypt, Israel, Gaza and the under Hosni Mubarak. Propaganda focused on cared more for Gaza than his own people was international as well as regional players. The Gaza and Hamas - painting them as dangerous used to question his patriotism and at the same interplay of these actors is exemplary of a wider enemy connected to the time to put blame on Gaza for causing electri­ regional development. (MB). The accusation was spread that the city shortages. Furthermore, when in 2012 Brotherhood was planning a violent takeover sixteen Egyptian border guards were killed in I first explain the role Palestine has played in of Egypt just like Hamas had taken over Gaza an attack, many TV pundits – loyal to the ancien Egypt both during and before the Egyptian up­ following their 2006 electoral victory. This fear- régime – instantly blamed Palestinian groups rising. I delineate how the Egyptian regime used mongering also provided Egypt with an excuse and Morsi for opening the Rafah border into Palestine both as tool to delegitimize dissent to intensify the cooperation with Israel and to Gaza.9 The attack was most likely committed by and criticism as well as to externalize blame for intensify the blockade of Gaza.5 Step-by-step another militant group in Sinai but blamed were

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Palestinians who were subsequently prevented between Hamas and terrorism in Egypt compli­ Especially, the PA’s close security cooperation from leaving Gaza. cates the actual challenge by Jihadist and extre- with the Israeli occupation forces is seen as mist groups in the Sinai.15 Sinai’s impoverished humiliating and infuriating, Palestinian leader Since Morsi was deposed by popular protests population is excluded from the tourist industry Mahmoud Abbas though called it a „sacred – where signs saying “death to Gaza” could be and has thus been forced to resort to trafficking duty.“25 This shows how even the PA has become seen –10 and the military, the demonization of drugs or smuggling through the tunnels.16 The engulfed in the alliance of status-quo forces and Palestinians has reached sickening levels. state does not tackle these problems but blames how choosing the PA as representative during Hamas for the insecurity and does nothing to negotiations served more American, European, Convergence alleviate the very real grievances of the locals. Israeli and Egyptian interests than anything Instead the state is further marginalizing them:17 else. Thus, the aim during ceasefire negotiations After having put the relation between Egypt recently, more than 1,156 families on the Gaza was to alleviate Gaza’s plight while without and Palestine into context, I argue that Egypt border have been forced out of their homes in making neither Israel look like the defeated has become part of an alliance which is moving order to make space for a 1 km wide buffer zone nor Hamas a victor.26 Granting Hamas a victory heaven and earth to take back every single right which is supposed to further isolate Gaza.18 could be interpreted as a victory for the Muslim and every shred of dignity wrestled from them Brotherhood – at least in the eyes of Egypt and during the Arab uprisings. This alliance consists The narrative of the fight against terrorism has Israel where every measure has been taken to mainly of Saudi-Arabia, the United Arab Emira- also enabled the recent atrocities in Gaza and confound the two.27 tes (UAE), Jordan, Egypt and Israel – all united Egypt’s official position during this operation by their common interest to stamp out the upri- has made obvious how decrepit the Egyptian The forces seeking to maintain the status- sings, which terrified them to the core, and the state has become: while the Israeli military was quo have thus come together to stifle every threat they posed to their hold over power and killing at least 2,189 Palestinians,19 the media challenge to their privileges and to suppress their privileges. The alignment of these actors’ was encouraging Israel to finish off Hamas.20 any popular challenge to their absolute hold on interests proves how closely connected popular At the same time Egypt’s allies were giving power. And it is especially the excuse of fighting struggles in the region have become. Thus, Israel the green light to go after Hamas.21 radical Islam or terrorism, which unifies Egypt, challenging the Egyptian government today Egypt though assumed its role as mediator Israel, the PA, , the UAE, Jordan and means challenging Israel, their regional counter- between the Palestinians and Israel, which was their European and American allies.28 In the past revolutionary partners and their American and increas­ingly difficult dueo t Egypt’s bias against the Arab states would have named Israel as the European allies. I shall explain why. Hamas. The best example hereof is the ceasefire existential threat to peace and security in the proposal Egypt put forward after consultation Middle East, but the country moved from being Shocked at how fast the US dropped Mubarak with Israel but without contacting Hamas.22 seen as threat to being regarded as essential when faced with a popular uprising, Saudi- Egypt fulfilled its designated role as mediator in part of the regional outlook of the pro-Western Arabia and the Gulf states have since done the end, but not without pushing Hamas as far Arab elites.29 So why are the MB and political everything in their power to support the away from the negotiations table as possible by Islam being singled out as this existential th- Egyptian regime:11 from large support for the ensuring that the Palestinian Authority (PA) was reat? The key to understanding this is legitimacy, weak economy,12 vocal support for the regime’s the official representative during negotiations.23 more precisely the lack of grassroots legitima- fight against terrorism, to lobbying the West Egypt of course supports Abbas’ strategy for cy.30 Most Arab regimes cling to power with bru- to accept the coup in Egypt. Even Israel put achieving Palestinian statehood characterized te force, by spreading fear, promising stability, its weight behind al-Sisi with AIPAC lobbying by negotiations, security cooperation, state buil- or paying off their citizens. But none of them are Congress not to stop aid to Egypt.13 ding with international aid. All those measures accountable to their population. This is precisely though reinforce Palestinian external depen- why the Muslim Brotherhood with its grassroots The latter is doing all he can to frame the dency and seem to remove Palestinians further support is deemed so threatening.31 Arguably, current crackdown on any challenge to the state away from their independent state. While it the more radical alternative – leftist, secular and as fight against terrorism: this age-old strategy could of course be argued that the PA would religious revolutionary activists – is also very subsumes all politics under the logic of the fight naturally act in the interest of its own people, threat­ening, since they sparked the uprisings. against terrorism and enables the ever-present this completely disregards the extent to which But it would be infinitely harder to devise a nar- yet elusive “national interest” to eliminate all the PA has become dependent on the US and rative which could directly target those secular space for criticism and dissent. Concretely, the Europe: Nathan Thrall succinctly explains that activists in a comprehensive way and at the regime continues to portray Morsi and the MB “US funding to the Palestinians is an obstacle to, same time be accepted and supported by the as Palestinian and the media revived rumours or excuse for refraining from, just about every alliance European and American allies. of the MB planning to violently take over Egypt means of leverage against Israel that Palestini- with the help of Hamas. To support this claim, ans might employ.“24 This unhealthy depen- reports of the infiltration of Hamas militants and dence has even sparked protests against PA rockets have been spread.14 This connection police forces during the recent Israeli operation.

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Conclusion therefore not a smart choice for Europe to be re- AlJazeera, August 2, 2014. http://www.aljazeera. garded as a supporter of the status-quo powers com/indepth/opinion/2014/08/gaza-saudi- I started this paper with the argument that the who, at the same time, only pays lip service to egypt-20148295742128666.html. conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is the its own democratic values. source of war, conflict, and human suffering in Hassan, Hanine. “Why Are Egyptian Media the Middle East and that its solution would also I end this essay with a quote by Iyad El-Bagh- Demonizing Palestinians? | The Electronic bring peace to this war-torn region. While this dadi who is one of the few intellectuals still Intifada.” News. The Electronic Intifada, July 23, familar argument does not quite explain how opti­mistic about change. He argues the real 2013. http://electronicintifada.net/content/ and why the Palestinian struggle is connected challenge to the status-quo is not constituted why-are-egyptian-media-demonizing-palestini- to war and suffering, it already hints at how they by the Islamic state or religious extremism, but ans/12632. are linked. In this paper I have highlighted this instead, by those people who are on hunger link showing how intricately and inseparably strikes, who vanish in prisons, those who are Kirkpatrick, David D. “Arab Leaders, Viewing Ha- the Palestinian fight for self-determination is forced into exile, silenced, or suffer from torture: mas as Worse Than Israel, Stay Silent - NYTimes. connected to the emancipatory struggle of their com.” News. , July 30, 2014. Arab neighbours. Palestinians have to challenge They are afraid of us. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/31/world/ not just Israel and its allies in the West, but also They are not afraid of those with guns. After all middleeast/fighting-political-islam-arab-states- the regimes led by pro-Western Arab elites who they have bigger guns. find-themselves-allied-with-israel.html?_r=0. support Israel. These are precisely the actors But they are afraid of those with ideas. who are doing all they can to counter the fight Mahmoud, Mourad. “Egypt to Deepen Buffer for self-determination, dignity and a say in Bibliography Zone with Gaza after Finding Longer Tunnels politics in the Arab states. | Reuters.” News. Reuters, November 17, 2014. Ackerman, Gwen, and Caroline Alexander. “Israel http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/17/us- In some way I do not provide fundamentally Finds Silent Backing by Arab Nations Hostile egypt-sinai-buffer-idUSKCN0J11M920141117?fe groundbreaking insights, especially when it to Hamas - Bloomberg.” News. Bloomberg, edType=RSS&feedName=worldNews. comes to the argument that Palestinians stand August 11, 2014. http://www.bloomberg.com/ not only against Israel but also its internatio- news/2014-08-10/israel-finds-silent-backing- Massad, Joseph. “Egypt’s Nouveaux Riches nal allies, the US and Europe. But at the first among-arab-nations-hostile-to-hamas.html. and the Palestinians - Opinion - time popular uprisings in the entire region English.” News. AlJazeera, August 9, 2012. have challenged and questioned the decrepit, Attalah, Lina, and Shady Zalat. “Where Is Pales- http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opini- corrupt, stagnant and reactionary rule of the tine in Egypt? | Mada Masr.” Accessed October on/2012/08/20128816542664189.html. old regimes. This fight for popular sovereignty, 5, 2014. http://www.madamasr.com/content/ dignity and social justice has coalesced into one where-palestine-egypt. . “Hamas: Egypt Delays Gaza struggle with the Palestinian aspirations for self- Talks.” News. Middle East Monitor, October 26, determination. There is a growing awareness Avraham, Rachel. “Saudi Arabian Newspaper: 2014. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/ about the “sameness” of this fight. Activists and ‘There Is No Longer an Arab-Israeli Conflict’ news/middle-east/14877-hamas-egypt-delays- people have learned that they cannot count on - JerusalemOnline.” News. Online, gaza-talks. support from the “cradle of democracy.” Instead November 5, 2014. http://www.jerusalemonline. they have formed networks among each other. com/news/middle-east/the-arab-world/saudi- Mohie, Mostafa. “Sinai: Between Security Solu- Thus, the current quiet in the neighbouring arabian-newspaper-there-is-no-longer-an-arab- tions and Media Rhetoric | Mada Masr.” News. Arab states in the face of the atrocities com- israeli-conflict-7236. Mada Masr, October 27, 2014. http://www. mitted during Operation Protective Edge did madamasr.com/news/politics/sinai-between- not signify the absence of solidarity but rather Baroud, Ramzy. “Fearing Political Islam.” News security-solutions-and-media-rhetoric. testify to the intensity of the crackdown by the - Journal. Counter Pounch, August 28, 2014. status-quo powers. http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/08/28/ OCHA. “OCHA Humanitarian Bulletin: Month- fearing-political-islam/. ly REPORT.” United Nations Office for the There is one lesson we should learn from the “Fighting for Survival in the Sinai: Egypt’s Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs occupied Arab uprisings: we cannot and must not rely on Convenient War | .” News. Middle Palestinian territory, August 2014. the old assumptions that nothing will change East Eye, 27 October. http://www.middleeas- in Arab societies. Things have changed – fast teye.net/columns/fighting-survival-sinai-egypt- Rabbani, Mouin. “Why the Gaza Truce Failed.” and radically. Right now, the status-quo powers s-convenient-war-1987430376. E-zine. Jadaliyya, August 24, 2014. http://www. have come down on the forces of change with jadaliyya.com/pages/index/18976/why-the- all their might and it appears they have won a Falk, Richard. “Gaza: Neighbourly Crimes of gaza-truce-failed. decisive victory. But it is a temporary one. It is Complicity - Opinion - .” News.

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Thrall, Nathan. “Hamas’s Chances.” Re- 18) Mahmoud, “Egypt to Deepen Buffer Zone view of Books, 21 August 2014c. http://www.lrb. with Gaza after Finding Longer Tunnels | co.uk/v36/n16/nathan-thrall/hamass-chances. Reuters.” “Whose Palestine? By Nathan Thrall | NYRblog 19) OCHA, “OCHA Humanitarian Bulletin: | The New York Review of Books.” The New York Monthly REPORT.” Review of Books, 19 June 2014aa. http://www. 20) Hassan, “Why Are Egyptian Media Demo- nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2014/jun/19/ nizing Palestinians? | The Electronic Intifada”; whose-palestine/?insrc=wbll. Attalah and Zalat, “Where Is Palestine in Egypt? | Mada Masr.” Van Reisen, Mirjam, Meron Estefanos, and Con- 21) Falk, “Gaza: Neighbourly Crimes of Complici- ny Rijken. “The Human Trafficking Cycle: Sinai ty - Opinion - Al Jazeera English.” and Beyond.” Wolf Legal Publishers, 2012. 22) Rabbani, “Why the Gaza Truce Failed.” 23) After 30 Egyptian soldiers were killed in an Notes attack in Sinai, Egypt even prevented the Hamas delegation from travelling to Cairo for the con- 1) Avraham, “Saudi Arabian Newspaper: ‘There tinuation of the negotiations which were sche- Is No Longer an Arab-Israeli Conflict’ - Jerusa- duled days later. Nevertheless, the Middle East lemOnline.” Monitor Middle East Monitor, “Hamas: Egypt 2) Baroud, “Fearing Political Islam.” Delays Gaza Talks.” reported that „a number of 3) Hassan, “Why Are Egyptian Media Demoni- Palestinian negotiators arrived in Cairo from the zing Palestinians? | The Electronic Intifada.” to join the talks.“ 4) Massad, “Egypt’s Nouveaux Riches and the 24) Thrall, “Whose Palestine? By Nathan Thrall | Palestinians - Opinion - Al Jazeera English”; NYRblog | The New York Review of Books.” Hassan, “Why Are Egyptian Media Demonizing 25) Ibid. Palestinians? | The Electronic Intifada.” 26) Thrall, “Hamas’s Chances”; Falk, “Gaza: 5) Hassan, “Why Are Egyptian Media Demoni- Neighbourly Crimes of Complicity - Opinion - Al zing Palestinians? | The Electronic Intifada.” Jazeera English.” 6) Ibid. 27) Baroud, “Fearing Political Islam.” 7) Ibid. 28) Falk, “Gaza: Neighbourly Crimes of Complici- 8) Massad, “Egypt’s Nouveaux Riches and the ty - Opinion - Al Jazeera English.” Palestinians - Opinion - Al Jazeera English”; 29) Kirkpatrick, “Arab Leaders, Viewing Hamas as Hassan, “Why Are Egyptian Media Demonizing Worse Than Israel, Stay Silent - NYTimes.com.” Palestinians? | The Electronic Intifada.” 30) Falk, “Gaza: Neighbourly Crimes of Complici- 9) Massad, “Egypt’s Nouveaux Riches and the ty - Opinion - Al Jazeera English.” Palestinians - Opinion - Al Jazeera English.” 31) This is not to argue that the representatives 10) Attalah and Zalat, “Where Is Palestine in of political Islam such as the MB, the political Egypt? | Mada Masr.” wing of Hamas or the Tunisian En-Nahda party 11) Baroud, “Fearing Political Islam”; Ackerman are any “better” at realising more inclusive and Alexander, “Israel Finds Silent Backing by and progressive politics. On the contrary, after Arab Nations Hostile to Hamas - Bloomberg.” they were voted into power through popular 12) Falk, “Gaza: Neighbourly Crimes of Complici- elections (MB and En-Nahda after the uprisings, ty - Opinion - Al Jazeera English.” Hamas in 2006) the populations under their rule © Austria Institut für Europa- 13) Ibid. were disappointed by the same old corrup- und Sicherheitspolitik, 2014 14) Hassan, “Why Are Egyptian Media Demoni- tion, nepotism, harsh security measures and Alle Rechte vorbehalten. Nachdruck oder zing Palestinians? | The Electronic Intifada.” conservative economic as well as social policies. vergleichbare Verwendungen von Arbeiten des Austria Instituts für Europa- und Sicherheitspolitik 15) Mohie, “Sinai: Between Security Solutions Both in Egypt and in Islamist parties (AIES) sind auch in Auszügen nur mit vorheriger and Media Rhetoric | Mada Masr.” faced widespread popular protests against their Genehmigung gestattet. Die im AIES-Fokus 16) Baroud, “Fighting for Survival in the Sinai: policies – a sign that the uprisings were about veröffentlichten Beiträge geben ausschließlich die Meinung der jeweiligen Autorinnen und Autoren Egypt’s Convenient War | Middle East Eye”; van actual change and not just about a different wieder. Reisen, Estefanos, and Rijken, “The Human face in power. Trafficking Cycle: Sinai and Beyond.” Schlossgasse 6, A-2344 Maria Enzersdorf Tel. +43 (0)2236 411 96, Fax. +43 (0)2236 411 96-9 17) Baroud, “Fighting for Survival in the Sinai: E-Mail: [email protected], www.aies.at Egypt’s Convenient War | Middle East Eye.” Stefanie Felsberger ist AIES Associate Fellow. Layout: EGENCY Medienbüro Patrick Meyer

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