Egyptian protesters call for severing Israel ties

[oberliner]

CAIRO (AFP) -- Dozens of protesters gathered in front of the Israeli embassy in Cairo on Wednesday demanding Egypt sever ties with and end gas exports to Israel.

Massed on a bridge next to the high-rise building where the embassy is located, they chanted: "the people demand the cancellation of normalization."

They also chanted: "the gas must stop," in reference to natural gas exports through a Sinai pipeline that unidentified saboteurs blew up earlier in the day.

One of the protesters, left-wing blogger Hossam Al-Hamalawy, said the demonstration came in response to recent remarks by Israeli President Shimon Peres, who praised the Egyptian revolt that toppled the government in February.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=382898

[aquart]

1. What a surprise.

And I'm totally in favor of them keeping the Sinai. And every Palestinian on it.

And the gas, that I'm sure they were giving to Israel for free, they should keep that, too.

Oh, the beautiful smell of rising brotherhood. What goodness it brings!

[Sadena Meti]

2. Democracy

The majority of Egyptians do not support the deals with Israel that the old Egyptian government made (source Time from a couple of months ago). This includes the peace deal.

If the people want it, then it should happen. That's democracy.

[oberliner]

3. Actually, Time magazine says the exact opposite of what you claim

The aftermath of the Egyptian revolution continues to offer Israel more comfort than many expected – but also, over the weekend, a warning.

The latest good news is a poll. Despite fears that the demise of President Hosni Mubarak would also spell the end of Egypt's peace treaty with Israel, nearly two-thirds of Egyptians in a International Peace Institute survey said they preferred keeping the pact – provided the treaty is linked to eventual creation of a Palestinian state. In fact, 46 percent felt “much more likely” to support a party that promised to keep the status quo. Amr Moussa, the former foreign minister who the survey confirmed is by far the frontrunner for president, has said he's on the same page.

Read more: http://globalspin.blogs.time.com/2011/04/10/egyptian-public-wants-to-keep-the-peace-with-israel-but-about-gaza/#ixzz1KpNbKaVY

[azurnoir]

4. That article would seem to dash the impression

that your OP seems to be trying to make

However things seem to have changed, with Hosni gone the Palestinians reached a unity deal rather quickly and unless they're being disingenuous much to the surprise of both Netanyahu and Obama

[Mosby]

5. so what do you think?

Should Egypt stop selling natural gas to Israel? How does that affect the Egyptian economy or does that not matter to you?

[azurnoir]

6. I think Egypt should make its own decisions.

Whether that be not selling to Israel or continued selling to Israel with or without changing the pricing structure that currently exists, also Egypt should be 'allowed' to deploy more military forces in Sinai to help ensure the safety of the pipeline

all that said are you implying that Egypt could not find another market for NG?

[Mosby]

7. I don't know much about the NG market in the ME

That's partly why I was asking you what you thought. Seems to me that when you have a major customer already it makes good business sense to keep them happy.