In moderate Egypt and Jordan, they vow resistance

by on January 15, 2009 3

This is really the only argument anyone needs. A realist one. The onslaught is raising Hamas's Q-rating  in Cairo:

But in interviews in Cairo with wounded supporters of the Islamist
militia, considered a terrorist organization by Israel and the United
States, Israel's assaults appear to be breeding more recruits and more
popular support for Hamas.

Men who say they have never fought
before or were not Hamas loyalists now vow to join the struggle against
Israel when they return to Gaza. They include policemen and other
professionals who form part of the backbone of Gazan society.

"I
supported neither Hamas nor Fatah," said Anwar el-Sahabani, 35, a
carpenter with a casts on his right leg and left arm, the result of an
air strike. He was referring to Hamas's rival party. "Today, after all
that has happened, I have to support Hamas."

And working wonders in Jordan too:

"There's a strong argument out there that goes, `Why not join the resistance?' " said Taher Masri, a former prime minister and foreign minister who serves in the Jordanian senate. " 'You tried the peace process for 20, 30 years, and you got nothing but more settlements and more checkpoints. Let me try my way. Let's try resistance.' "

He added, "It's gaining ground."

During the first week of the Gaza conflict, Jordan's lawmakers, many of them handpicked by the country's US-funded security forces, torched the Israeli flag in Parliament to roaring applause from their colleagues.

About Philip Weiss

Philip Weiss is Founder and Co-Editor of Mondoweiss.net.
Posted in Gaza, Israel/Palestine, Middle East, US Policy in the Middle East, US Politics

{ 3 comments... read them below or add one }

  1. syvanen says:
    January 15, 2009 at 7:29 pm

    This the big unknown. How long can oppressive regimes like Jordan and Egypt keep the lid on? A revolution in either country would certainly shake things up.

  2. citizen says:
    January 15, 2009 at 9:17 pm

    The Arab Street grows more defiant by the hour. The Brotherhood in Egypt is calling to aid Palestine. The current regime, secured by 2.2 billion annual US tax dollars conditional on going along with the US-Israel project would be endangered if Egypt agrees to secure against smuggling of arms through the tunnels, supporting the continued
    blockade of Gaza by air, land, and sea. This is the first time no Arab nation has joined the Palestinians in their fight for freedom–something noticed by denizens of the West Bank . The outcome of this attempt to put a stake in the heart of HAMAS is of world shaking importance. If HAMAS is still standing in another week, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, especially, as well other Arab governments may be very much weakened. If not, the status quo
    wlll go on for decades, the US-Israel project as "fate."

  3. D. says:
    January 15, 2009 at 9:35 pm

    I think you're right, citizen. I wish I knew better how the mood of the people was changing in Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

    (Not that it's much more than a symbolic gesture, but listen to George Galloway lash into Mubarak.)

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