Don't blame Egypt for its policy in the Gaza Strip

Hassan Khader
Daily Star (Lebanon)
20 January '10

Egypt’s actions in Gaza have been a source of confusion for some time. Four factors govern Egypt’s policy toward the Gaza Strip. First, the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty, the upholding of which is a key priority for Egyptian national security. Second, concerns triggered by Israel’s desire to transfer responsibility for the Gaza Strip onto the Egyptian state, especially in light of Israel’s withdrawal from the strip and its attempts thereby to rid itself of the obligations imposed by international law on the occupying power.

Third, concerns arising from the de facto rule in the Gaza Strip by Hamas, the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, which poses an additional threat to Egyptian national security. This threat results from the well-established ties between Hamas and its banned mother organization, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, and the special relationship linking the Brotherhood generally with Iran, Syria, and other Islamist organizations in different parts of the Arab world.

And fourth, Egypt’s ongoing efforts to end the Arab and Palestinian conflict with Israel through negotiations that would lead to a Palestinian state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, while simultaneously avoiding Cairo’s adopting a position that would contradict its peace treaty with Israel or jeopardize its relations with the United States.

These factors are all interrelated. Under certain circumstances some issues become paramount, while at other times different concerns become priorities. Three overarching facts are most significant to this process: First, that the Gaza Strip shares a border with Egypt; second, Egypt is a major player in the Arab moderate camp; and third, there is a historical relationship between Egypt and Palestine.

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