Peace vs. Democracy? Israel’s Reaction to the Overthrow of the Mubarak Regime
Israel Debates is released as online publication of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Israel. Each edition presents opinions of two authors who express controversial views about major events of Israeli interior or foreign politics. The present publication of Israel Debates presents the Israeli domestic discussion on Israel’s Reaction to the Overthrow of the Mubarak Regime.
Prof. Hillel Frisch of the Begin-Sadat (BESA) Centre for Strategic Studies at the Bar-Ilan University refers to the French Revolution of 1789, the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and expects the upheavals in Egypt to end with the Muslim Brotherhood assuming power. This could spark civil war.
Prof. Yoram Meital, Chairman of the Chaim Herzog Centre for Middle East Studies and Diplomacy at Ben Gurion University of the Negev, is of the opinion that Israel should not be guided byfear and doomsday scenarios when assessing the changes in Egypt. In evaluating the possibilities and the dangers he expresses cautious optimism.
March 2011.