It’s not only a great shame that two of the Arab world’s largest and most influential countries are at odds, the fallout has happened at a sensitive moment that could alter the course of history.
On Saturday, Riyadh made the surprise announcement that it was recalling its ambassador and all diplomatic staff from Egypt due to security concerns. According to the Saudi news agency, the closing of its embassy and consulate in Alexandria were prompted by “unjustified demonstrations” and “hostile slogans.” But Faiza Abu Al Najaa, the Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation, has said that the Saudi ambassador will return to Cairo soon. Israel cleared out its embassy in Cairo some weeks ago and flew out all its contents for similar reasons.
On Friday, up to 1,000 Egyptians yelling threats and anti-Saudi slogans attempted to storm the kingdom’s embassy. Their fury was over the arrest of Egyptian lawyer Ahmad Al Jizawi, who by some accounts had been sentenced in absentia to a year in prison and public flogging for insulting King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz. But if that were the case, it’s difficult to imagine why he would have placed himself in jeopardy by travelling to Jeddah on April 17, ostensibly as a pilgrim.
Saudi authorities allege his arrest was justified because he was found at the airport with 21,000 anti-anxiety Xanax tablets in bottles of baby milk and Quran boxes. The Egyptian public doesn’t buy the official account. Most Egyptians believe his detention was due to a court case initiated by Al Jizawi against the Saudi government for wrongful imprisonment and torture of Egyptian citizens.
The arrest has served to compound Egyptian anger against Riyadh for its seeming backing of their ousted president Hosni Mubarak throughout the revolution, while liberals complain that Saudi Arabia is interfering in Egypt’s internal politics by funding the conservative Salafist movement.
Nevertheless, the mob should not be allowed to dictate foreign policy; there’s too much at stake. And, in any case, governments have a legal duty to ensure embassies are fully secured. The Egyptian military should have intervened to keep rowdy demonstrators at bay. Without knowing the facts, it’s almost impossible to divine which side has most right on its side. But when one studies the big picture it’s in neither side’s interests to throw salt on the other’s wound.
Most Egyptians I’ve spoken to on this topic displayed a ‘good riddance’ attitude concerning the Saudi decision to withdraw; clearly, they are letting their newly-nascent national pride obscure the big picture. In the event the Saudi/Egyptian relationship deteriorates, it could have implications for Egyptians seeking visas for the Haj and Umrah as well as for those currently working in Saudi Arabia or hoping to find a job there. There’s also a chance that other GCC states could line up with Riyadh in solidarity. With Egypt’s economy in free-fall, the country should be courting friends. Its tourist industry has been hit hard. Europeans are wary of visiting until there’s stability. Israel has warned its citizens to leave Sinai resorts to avoid planned attacks. This summer promises to be one of the bleakest ever if Saudis and Gulf nationals are minded to stay away too.
Mending fences
Most importantly, Egypt requires a financial helping hand from GCC states at this juncture. It’s no wonder head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces Field Marshal Mohammad Hussain Tantawi is urging a swift mending of fences, while the government sends out messages of love and respect in the kingdom’s direction.
King Abdullah is said to be mulling how to resolve the issue. I trust he will take into account the fact that Iran is actively attempting to attract Egypt into its axis which could be loosely defined as the Iran-Syria-Iraq camp that has close links with Russia and China. When push comes to shove, Egypt will go the way of the money rather than face bankruptcy.
Furthermore, there is evidence that senior players within the Muslim Brotherhood are disposed to turn east. A few days ago, I watched a video clip showing a former leading Brotherhood representative, Kamal Al Elbawy, praising Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Khomeini during the Islamic Conference held in Tehran as models of Islamic resistance against the West. “The number one figure in the Muslim world is, indeed, the leader of Iran,” he said.
At the same time, Egypt’s relations with the US have become strained over Cairo’s crackdown on American-funded NGOs it accuses of fomenting dissent. One of the country’s front-running presidential candidates, Abdul Moneim Abu Al Fotouh, said this during an interview on Al-Mihwar TV: “If the US wants to cut off its aid to Egypt, we will cut off its interests in Egypt.”
In short, Egypt’s defection to the Iranian bandwagon would be detrimental to whatever vestige of Arab unity that’s left and particularly to GCC states eager to prevent Iran from consolidating its regional grip. Egyptians and Saudis need to set aside hurt feelings or national hubris, remember their close historical ties and work on cementing a relationship of equals based on mutual respect. They must do it now before ugly scar tissue starts to form, else tomorrow the Arab world will be even more fragmented and open to Iranian exploitation than, sadly, it is today.
Linda S. Heard is a British specialist writer on Middle East affairs. She welcomes feedback and can be contacted by email at heardonthegrapevines@yahoo.co.uk.
RSS
Riyadh, Cairo must work to heal rift
Posted on May 3, 2012 by Linda S. Heard
It’s not only a great shame that two of the Arab world’s largest and most influential countries are at odds, the fallout has happened at a sensitive moment that could alter the course of history.
On Saturday, Riyadh made the surprise announcement that it was recalling its ambassador and all diplomatic staff from Egypt due to security concerns. According to the Saudi news agency, the closing of its embassy and consulate in Alexandria were prompted by “unjustified demonstrations” and “hostile slogans.” But Faiza Abu Al Najaa, the Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation, has said that the Saudi ambassador will return to Cairo soon. Israel cleared out its embassy in Cairo some weeks ago and flew out all its contents for similar reasons.
On Friday, up to 1,000 Egyptians yelling threats and anti-Saudi slogans attempted to storm the kingdom’s embassy. Their fury was over the arrest of Egyptian lawyer Ahmad Al Jizawi, who by some accounts had been sentenced in absentia to a year in prison and public flogging for insulting King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz. But if that were the case, it’s difficult to imagine why he would have placed himself in jeopardy by travelling to Jeddah on April 17, ostensibly as a pilgrim.
Saudi authorities allege his arrest was justified because he was found at the airport with 21,000 anti-anxiety Xanax tablets in bottles of baby milk and Quran boxes. The Egyptian public doesn’t buy the official account. Most Egyptians believe his detention was due to a court case initiated by Al Jizawi against the Saudi government for wrongful imprisonment and torture of Egyptian citizens.
The arrest has served to compound Egyptian anger against Riyadh for its seeming backing of their ousted president Hosni Mubarak throughout the revolution, while liberals complain that Saudi Arabia is interfering in Egypt’s internal politics by funding the conservative Salafist movement.
Nevertheless, the mob should not be allowed to dictate foreign policy; there’s too much at stake. And, in any case, governments have a legal duty to ensure embassies are fully secured. The Egyptian military should have intervened to keep rowdy demonstrators at bay. Without knowing the facts, it’s almost impossible to divine which side has most right on its side. But when one studies the big picture it’s in neither side’s interests to throw salt on the other’s wound.
Most Egyptians I’ve spoken to on this topic displayed a ‘good riddance’ attitude concerning the Saudi decision to withdraw; clearly, they are letting their newly-nascent national pride obscure the big picture. In the event the Saudi/Egyptian relationship deteriorates, it could have implications for Egyptians seeking visas for the Haj and Umrah as well as for those currently working in Saudi Arabia or hoping to find a job there. There’s also a chance that other GCC states could line up with Riyadh in solidarity. With Egypt’s economy in free-fall, the country should be courting friends. Its tourist industry has been hit hard. Europeans are wary of visiting until there’s stability. Israel has warned its citizens to leave Sinai resorts to avoid planned attacks. This summer promises to be one of the bleakest ever if Saudis and Gulf nationals are minded to stay away too.
Mending fences
Most importantly, Egypt requires a financial helping hand from GCC states at this juncture. It’s no wonder head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces Field Marshal Mohammad Hussain Tantawi is urging a swift mending of fences, while the government sends out messages of love and respect in the kingdom’s direction.
King Abdullah is said to be mulling how to resolve the issue. I trust he will take into account the fact that Iran is actively attempting to attract Egypt into its axis which could be loosely defined as the Iran-Syria-Iraq camp that has close links with Russia and China. When push comes to shove, Egypt will go the way of the money rather than face bankruptcy.
Furthermore, there is evidence that senior players within the Muslim Brotherhood are disposed to turn east. A few days ago, I watched a video clip showing a former leading Brotherhood representative, Kamal Al Elbawy, praising Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Khomeini during the Islamic Conference held in Tehran as models of Islamic resistance against the West. “The number one figure in the Muslim world is, indeed, the leader of Iran,” he said.
At the same time, Egypt’s relations with the US have become strained over Cairo’s crackdown on American-funded NGOs it accuses of fomenting dissent. One of the country’s front-running presidential candidates, Abdul Moneim Abu Al Fotouh, said this during an interview on Al-Mihwar TV: “If the US wants to cut off its aid to Egypt, we will cut off its interests in Egypt.”
In short, Egypt’s defection to the Iranian bandwagon would be detrimental to whatever vestige of Arab unity that’s left and particularly to GCC states eager to prevent Iran from consolidating its regional grip. Egyptians and Saudis need to set aside hurt feelings or national hubris, remember their close historical ties and work on cementing a relationship of equals based on mutual respect. They must do it now before ugly scar tissue starts to form, else tomorrow the Arab world will be even more fragmented and open to Iranian exploitation than, sadly, it is today.
Linda S. Heard is a British specialist writer on Middle East affairs. She welcomes feedback and can be contacted by email at heardonthegrapevines@yahoo.co.uk.