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Subscribe to RSSUpdate 4:50 p.m. ET: Any new government of Egypt must be willing to maintain peace with Israel, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs says.
Briefing reporters after President Barack Obama's televised address welcoming the resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Gibbs said much work remained to be done.
"This is the beginning of this process, not the end of it," he said. "The partnership that we have had with the people and government of Egypt for 30 years has brought stability."
That means it's "important that the next government of Egypt recognize the accords that have been signed with the government of Israel," he said, referring to the 1979 treaty that Mubarak's predecessor, Anwar Sadat, signed with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin.
The Israeli government so far hasn't commented on Mubarak's resignation, but former Israeli officials expressed concern that it could affect the treaty.
"We have a tough period ahead of us," Zvi Mazel, a former Israeli ambassador in Egypt, told Israel TV. "Iran and Turkey will consolidate positions against us. Forget about the former Egypt. Now it's a completely new reality, and it won't be easy."
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Yeh. 'Cause it's all about Israel. Screw them. This is Egypt's day, and Israel and its lackeys would be wise to shut up and butt out.
Put a screw in your anti-semetism.
You put a sock in it! Israel stealing Palestinian land, ghettoizing the people, subjecting them to trial by missiles, indefinite detention without trial etc and name calling should be the least of your problem.
Let Israel honor its agreement ie.242 ALL components of 242 to be adhered to before the illegal annexation of Arab land.
"Screw them?" Gee, I guess the world hasn't screwed them enough yet. Babylon, Egypt, Germany, and now you, too. Another holocaust in the making? What have the Jews done to you? Have they aimed missiles at your home? Have they trained suicide bombers to invade your community? Have they shouted "Death to America?"
What I do not understand is religious people killing others for does it not state in their 'godly' books (bible, torah, koran...) killing is evil (thou shall not kill-one of the ten commandments).
Palestine has nothing to do what nazi gemany (and other fiendish govts, people, organisations, etc) have done to the jews. Israel must honour UN treaties vis-a-vis Palestine...stop building on Palestinian territory. Israel have commited atrocities to the Palestinian people-it is not an opinion but a fact. It is to Israel's advantage that Palestine become a state and that they build a relationship for their security and the middle east.
I am not at all anti-semitic or anything else for that matter for I am atheist and we are not taught to hate as religious people by their leaders rabbis, muftis, priests, pastors etc. Why is it that religious people preach love (in theory but not in practise) when they do not share the minimum of respect for other religions (or lack of) who do not share their same belief?
So, love instead of hating is the bottom line and respect those who are different even though one may not share in their belief.
Look at a map- Palestine does not exist. and atrocities? How about the Israeli family of 5 that was slaughtered to death last week? That's atrocious.
Ya know, I would think that its important for the new government in Egypt to continue to recognize all of its treaties, not just the one with that little country to their north. Very poor wording on the part of Gibbs. I'm disappointed in him.
Gibbs.. I'm disappointed. He still wants to retain the previous situation in Egypt.
Is he from Mars? Why is he making demands? Was he ever at the Tahrir square - risking his live?
What is his right???
You have to understand that Robert Gibbs is reading from a script. A script that has been handed down from a long list of past U. S. administrations. It's so shameful that the U.S. vetoes resolution after resolutions and claiming they're for a Middle East peace. Who are they kidding.
You have to understand, the politicians in Washington are overwhelmed by the powerful pro-expansion Israel lobby group.
There must be a State of Israel. But not one that perpetrates the same atrocities it suffered on it's neighbors.
Israel simply adhering to U.N. resolutions and every radical government in the Middle East and down to Afghanistan and Pakistan is isolated. This is not happening because some want to have their cake and eat it too.
The US policy makers are failing again and repeating their past mistakes in dictating their will on other independent country. Next the US would denounce a democratically elected Egyptian government if it was not friendly with Israel. The US policy makers must realize that they need to accept the outcome of democratic elections not predefine it, otherwise, what’s new?
I agree Son of Abraham
Back in November Israel was condemning criticism of President Hosni Mubarak because it threatened the peace deal with Israel that kept Israel safe.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israel-urges-world-to-curb-criticism-of-egypt-s-mubarak-1.340238
Now they are keeping quiet.
It is time for the Egyptian Military now to give a chance to Egyptians to rest by responding sincerely to the people's demands for a better Egypt. After the topple of Mub. Please work together as a people and as a family.
The world is watching Egyptian's Military. We will force you out if you act like that fallen stock and autocratic Mubarack. I join President Obama to say:"Egypt will never be the same". So watch out. We are watching!!!!!
I certainly hope that honoring that treaty will turn out to be true. The worst thing that could happen in the wake of transitioning to a democratic government is a pointless war. I don't think that Israel would have any choice but to use nukes to defend itself. That would be castostrophic for this region and the world as well. How would the U.S. stay out of a crisis like that?? I find it encouraging that the Egyptian people want a democratic form of government and at the same time I'm fearful that if the wrong people gain control, we could be in a for a very, very bad situation. I hope I'm wrong.
Israel would have no choice but to use nukes to defend itself? Israel's conventional war machine could decimate Egypt in about 12 hours, so why would they need to resort to nukes? Although I do think the use of nukes by Israel is an inevitability, it won't come until someone else fires, or smuggles one across the border into Israel. Call me a pessimist, but let's face it. That scary as hell scenario is all but an eventual certainty. There are just too many disenfranchised religious nuts in the region who hate Israel. People whose lives suck so bad they are more than willing to give it up for a little money for their family, 69 virgins in heaven, and a pot of lucky charms.
"wrong people" So you support democracy as long as you can rig the elections? Mubarak was working for the U.S., we helped keep him in control and suppressing the Egyptians. Don't be surprised if the Egyptians elect somebody that isn't particularly cozy with the U.S. Something similar happened in Iran 30 years ago and look how that turned out.
Uh No Johnny. Wrong people = radical nutjobs bent on the destruction of anything or anyone not Islam. I think you'd agree that if that happened there would be war with Israel. I don't give a damn about rigging anything. Its not our business to pick a leader for anyone. Who the Egyptians elect is their business and hopefully it will be a moderate who is focused on improving conditions for their people and a big plus would be someone who is peace-loving like the egyptian people. Calm down.
We have plenty of radical nutjobs here in the U.S. who've committed agressive and violent acts against people. I think we've learned to be tolerant of them while reminding them that this is a secular democracy in this country.
I haven't noticed any radical Islamists In Egypt over the past weeks. But if people keep disparaging Egyptians by suspecting them of terrorism, they might get angry and justificably so. What if other countries charactized the U.S. because of what they see in Beck, Limbaugh, and Palin?
Blue, what exactly is your point? No one has accused the Egyptian people of anything. I sure didn't. But even a simple-minded person can see that in the midst of a power vacuum, stranger things have happened. I can't imagine the people there going for a Sharia law supporter or a hate monger but if I've learned anything about life, it would be "never say never". In all of the infamous events that we call acts of terrorism, I can't personally remember a citizen of Egypt taking part. NEVER once did I "characterize" anything or anyone. Please try to comprehend what you're reading and maybe not inject things that are NOT there. The only thing you said that did make sense was that "we have plenty of radical nutjobs here".
The US will go down the gurgler with the racist apartheid Israeli regime. US instead of using its one veto to see that Israel honors its own self imposed unilaterally declared 'state' and borders, has used its veto to circumvent the UN and the wishes of Int. Community, shielding Israel from facing justifiable sanctions for mass murder, land theft etc.
In the meantime the Muslims ie Iran and Turkey has out maneuvered the West and it's hypocrisy and has left us with egg on our collective faces. Should the US cut aid to Egypt, Saudi Arabia was emphatic it is prepared to finance Egypt and join forces with Iran.
Perhaps we should treat the aid to the Arabs as reparation for Israel land theft and get Israel to cough up the dough instead.
Lydia
Youre a putz
Nate, what got your goat? The fact that Israel should be forced to pay for it own illegal occupation? Well the Germans had to pay reparation for the Nazi's Holocaust, Israel should have to pay for the Palestinian Holocaust. ie the mass murder and subjugation of the Palestinians whose only crime is that Israel covet their land.
I feel everyone should step back,give it a little time(maybe six months) and see.Give PEACE A CHANCE!!I feel if we keep our nose and moeny out of it they"ll figure it out. We will see if iseral will honor 242-I only hope for the best.
you can say must all you want!they're going to do what they want to do.i think HOPE is a better word. i HOPE the government they get in there is not a window dressing and doesn't turn out worst than the last.
you better HOPE for a government that's for the people,a fair balanced and democratic government.
other wise boys and girls you're deep do do. one more thing Shame on the United States for paying off this dictactor of the last 30 yrs, who brutalized his own people.you better hope that peace treaty that was signed 30 yrs ago was real, and don't have to pay anyone off in this government this time, to keep it going.
when Anwar Sadat started out on the road to peace he was sincere, and honest, for wanting it.once he died it turned into a payoff to keep it enforced.
Again you better JUST HOPE!
I would hope Egypt continues to honor ALL of it's treaties. But it's Egypt's call. I don't see Israel doing much to promote peace in the region.
Theres a reason why we are allies with Israel. The surronding countries who I might add were nazi sympathizers have been screaming jiahd since our great president and country pushed for the Jewish people to have a homeland. why did they need a homeland, oh yeah they were alomost wiped out in europe. Ever since then the surroding coutnries have been trying to wipe out the great people of Israel(without any success what so ever).
http://www.adl.org/anti_semitism/arab/cartoon_arab_press_080702.asp
http://www.snopes.com/religion/blood.asp
I don't see why Jews need a homeland any more than Protestants, plumbers, or fishermen need a homeland. How about we set aside a good chunk of New Jersey so the plumbers can have their own country?
Gibbs can just shut his LACKY MOUTH! Egypt needs to honor themselves for once, now that they FINALLY can!
Gibbs can just shut his Lacky Mouth! Is it not his job, just as it is every White House Press Secretary's job, to be an open mouthed lackey? You sir need to think before you speak.
Unaffiliated Independent--Yes, but he's supposed to be OUR lackey, not Israel's.
I believe Egypt will honour it's treaties it has signed , but the question is will Israel honour it's treaties it has signed?
They must. Pacta sunt servanda.
Egypt most likely will fall under the same rule. I cannot see nearly enough change to properly invoke clausula rebus sic stantibus.
Hey, American Law is quickly eliminating Latin terms in an effort to increase clarity and simplicity so International Law is the only time I get to throw Latin around. The first means "promises must be kept." Pretty easy to understand what that means. The second means "things thus standing," and is an exception the normal rule of following treaties signed even in times like Egypt is experiencing.
Just some cocktail party talk for everyone.
The U.S. laying claim to 30 years of stability?....I beg to differ with that assertion from your President. It has not even been 6 hours and already he makes that mis-step. It was 30 year's of oppression, murder, genocide, corrupt Government Mr. Obama. Furthermore, the audacity to demand Egypt to oberserve a treaty with Israel is sophomoric and shows arrogance/ignorance of Obama to the World.
Actually it shows Obama understands International Law. Egypt is still bound to those treaties.
This huge, momentous event in Egypt with all of the ramifications and the only issue on our government's mind is concern about Israel????
Who says that Israel doesn't run the USA? - We are little more than Israel's lap dog.
How about changing the title to: Israel should honor international laws and immediatly end their illegal occupation and settlement expansion in Palestine.
You hit the nail on the head. Why is it a one way street? Who attacked first catching the planes on the ground.This NOT should be about the peace treaty-i t should be about what continues the peace over the long term. As President Obama has noted in his Cairo speech, "settlerment have been an obstocle to peace". Eight other Presidents havemade the same observation so this is neither new,nor unique and cannot be laid to special pleading by Obama intent on gaining popularity at others expense.This was not a bow to the arab street;it was and is a cold recognition of reality.
Isreal,particualrly the right wing that controls the Kennesset and giving Netanyahu a majority, and Avedigor Lieberman, theForiegn Minnester have been oblicius to this fact.
But the balance of power is shifting. Sen Rand Paul-thedarling of Evangelical conservative and Tea Party member called last week for ending aid to Isreal. This sent ripples to the whole US Senate. The solid aid to Isreal at all costs group is crackig apart.
Isreal should press for a new deal while it still aha s leverage. It make no sense to alienated 80 million Egyptian who control theSueze canal one of thelife lines of trade. Isreal can alsobuild on a record of peace andcooperation the 2 counties have had-and the trust should not be lost. Egypt and Isreal have joint plans for nuclear power facilities to combat global warming, and Mubarak's son was a leading advocate of the projects; they ought continue their contribution to preventing climate change
Egypt which signed the NPT Treaty should inssit that Isreal join and disclose it's arsenal of weaponry.
Thatis the path to peace.
You don't know your history. First all the Arabs try to drive Israel into the Sea in 1948 telling the palestinians to leave and it will all be over soon. 70 years later thier Arab brothers continue to use them as a distraction for thier own cruelty for thier people. Israel attacked the planes on the ground in 1967 hours before those planes were going to attack Israel to destroy it again.
Maybe now that the Egyptians are free the new leaders will stop using the palestine excuse to defer money from thier people.
Oh and Israel accepted Bill Clinton's peace deal in 2000, Arafat rejected it.
Remember the
USS Liberty
POWER TO The PEOPLE Of EGYPT, God Bless Them ! This Is EGYPT's DAY & A New Generation, Any Peace Treaty Must Be NEW of The New Government, The OLD Is Out Dated & The U.S. NEEDS To Keep Its NOSE Out Of Egypt's Business Now, Their Puppet Is GONE ! The U.S. Has Enough Problems On Its Own Home Front That Needs To Taken Care of, DEBT, Unemployment, An Infrastructure that is falling apart, under ground gas lines exploding, etc... Clean-Up Your Own House/Yard First Before You Tell Someone Else How To Clean-Up Theirs & What They Should and Should Not Do ! SEMPER FI !
The reason Israel is mentioned in the Egyptian context is due to the long history of wars in the region, each of which became more violent and destructive than the previous ones. To think that this monumental shift of power in the most populous Arab nation could occur without mentioning things like peace treaties, Suez Canal access, needs for peaceful transition, and so on, in short to ignore various worldwide implications, would be shortsighted at best. A peaceful Middle East can bring prosperity and good government to large populations. Another Middle East war would be destructive almost beyond the ability of words to describe. It is for the simple fact the the Middle East nations need to recognize, as does America, that "enemies" are actually less of a threat than war itself. It is, in its most expanded and violent forms, that war itself becomes the enemy of all involved. Peace and continued diplomatic and economic relations are a valid topic any time. There is no last word in this sort of thing, and nobody has the right to say what can be the topics of discussion in such a crucial situation as this. More power to the Egyptian people for asserting their rights; more power to the Egyptian people if they can develop a government that will honor treaties and peaceful co-extistence. Major war is the real enemy, a sentence worth repeating many times a day.
Your points are all true but could we let them celebrate for at least a few hours? Good Lord, they just overthrew a dictator--can we not celebrate the moment with them without dragging friggin Israel into it?
xavijohn, very well said. I would hope the Egyptian protesters have a concise celebration and follow it up with the actual accomplishment of what they're celebrating. I think the US administration has handled this better than it has received credit for, but it's to be expected that those who only think imposing whatever influence will work for one's own benefit wouldn't recognize a conscious intention to avoid doing that out of respect for others' rights. Reminders by the US administration that we won't be doormats toward violations of agreements that aren't merely internal considerations of relations within one's own country are not only appropriate, but good leadership.
Make no mistake, Israel can take care on it's own. The U.S. is walking a fine line here, it's just like Obama to stick out his neck.
I hope to see some wise people who say... It should be Israel that should honor its obligations first. toward the Palestinian people and its accords with them... THEN ask Egypt to honor its treaty with them. It is a two way process not just from one side. Israel was doing what it wants without caring about any international obligations that it has... Now days are going around!!
People seem to forget, every time that Israel has come to an agreement with the Palestinians and give them ground, the Palestinians start the suicide bombing again...
Completely, utterly, and blatantly false! You should be ashamed for repeating this baloney on a public forum! Israel has ceded NO land to the Palestinians, instead opting to annex more land through 'settlements', and the Israelis have broken nearly every agreement they have entered into with Palestine since 1948.
Israel has ceded no land to the Palestinians? Really? Tell that to all the people affected by the unilateral withdrawal from Gaza. With the exception of Gilad Shalit, there are no Israelis/Jews in Gaza.
Also, you might want to remember that the West Bank was captured from Jordan. So, it's occupied Jordanian land, if anything.
I am sick of living in the most arrogant nation on earth. The US no longer has a leg to stand on when it comes to the bully pulpit. Our credibility is shot, we need to shut up.
WELL SAID
Like that old country song goes, 'There's a train every day, leaving either way.'
The US is a military dictatorship, just like Egypt is now, G-d only knows why they are celebrating, they are now just brother paupers like those under our Shahs of Afghanistan and Pakistan, and like US. By 2014, all of our income taxes will go to war Mercenaries and banking Usurers, nothing for health and human services.
Now shut up and get in that box car! Achtung!
philip, if you're sick of living here, then go, and don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.
Egypt just removed a dictator and now you have the U.S. telling them what to honor.
Yeah, like Egypt is a colony instead of a sovereign govt.
I really think its about time to give all the US bashers exactly what they want. The US should pull out of the middle east. Completely. Which would force us to build cars and an infrastructure much less dependent on oil (which we could and should do anyway), which in turn would let the radical Islamists gain more ground and power in the region, which would inevitably lead to more antagonism and terrorism of Israel, which would eventually lead to Israel getting fed up and kicking the crap out of everyone bothering them. History teaches us that lessons are learned and real change comes about as a result of war. Do you really think we can reason with people who behead their own children and siblings because they dishonor the family, or governments who condone and support the whipping of women for wearing western clothing or stoning a women to death who may have committed adultery because the abusive a-hole she was married to wouldn't recognize her right to a divorce? I realize these are harsh words and these examples do not represent all of middle eastern society, but its time for the sane people of that region to start cleaning their own house or risk being lumped in with the crazies as a result.
THIS is why the middle east hates us! If they want to go to war with Israel let them. The only reason we care about Israel is because of religious wackos here. F*ck Israel!!!
This goes out to all the ignorant poopheads out there.........the fact is that the palestinians do have a homeland....its called Jordan, they refused it..........The state of Israel was established through a legal process, Ben Gurion did not just show up in the middle east one day and proclaim..........this is now Israel...........AM YISROEL CHAI!!!!!!ISRAEL AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE WILL LIVE FOREVER!!!!.............if anyone has an issue with this..........they can kiss my Jewish tuches!!!!!!!!!!!!
So does the Zionists......they are called Poland, Russia, Latvia, Estonia, Germany, France Etc, Etc
"Update 4:50 p.m. ET: Any new government of Egypt must be willing to maintain peace with Israel, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs says."
When did POTUS become INTERNATIONAL REICHSMINISTER for ISRAEL? "...must be willing to" ... or what?
Let's roll? Expand Ir-Af-Pak-xStan to Egypt? Round-the-clock UAVs dropping He//fire on innocent civilians?
...or what!? Rattle trade sanctions? It's NONE OF AMERICA'S DAMN BUSINESS WHAT THE EGYPTIANS DO!
What about ESTIMATED TRILLION CUBIC FEET OF OFFSHORE SINAI AND GAZA GAS, ISRAEL IS STEALING!?!
It is a peoples' revolution. I think we should toast the prosperity of Egypt as at now and less about holding their nose to some treaty with some country. That is so uncalled for. Had this revolution happened in Israel, I don't think America would have issued that statement. Why do you want to piss in on somebody's internal affairs?
I hope whatever next gov't emerges from Egypt should rethink taking that yearly $1.5b aid money from America. Kind of it has severely served to make them lackeys of Israel and US than to serve the Egyptian people. How else Israel could have bombed Gaza into a stone age whilst Egypt sat unconcerned? If Egypt could tackle official corruption they would need that shut-up money from America.
Israel wouldn't have to worry so much about itself if it behaved normally. How about congratulating the people of Egypt and wishing them the best for a new democratic government. This country's self-obsession is tiring--no one in Tahir Square is even thinking about Israel.
This attitude needs to be put to rest, the one that sees all Arabs as closet terrorists. Arabs are people like anyone else. Treat them respect and they'll do the same for you. Abuse them and they'll spit in your face, as you would.
2-11-11
What I got from the conscious revolution in Egypt is
1) that a majority of Egyptians were fed up with the Mubarak authoritarian/police state that treats them like slave wage peasants.
2) The world should thank Lord GOD Almighty that Obama/Biden are in the White House and not McCain/Palin or some other “bomb, bomb Iran” Conservative wackos.
3) the Republican side of US government seems to be more concerned with corporate and big oil interests than the best interests of the PEOPLE… ANY people… anywhere!
Just look how the right wing media is trying to spin the Liberation of the Egyptian PEOPLE. “Hamas Hails Mubarak resignation”… “Iran celebrates revolution waving Egyptian flag”… Ohhhh look at this, “Israelis in big trouble at loss of Arab ally”. Where the headlines about how a nation of honest citizens took power back from a greed-stricken, power mad dictator. Power to the PEOPLE , right?
I wish the American PEOPLE had that kind of wisdom and courage during the 8 year Bush/Cheney disaster. I can only HOPE that there’s still enough conscious American citizens to keep the neo-cons from ever taking power again. It will be worse than anything Bush/Cheney failed miserable at, this time it could be end of all the USA stood for.
Let me get this straight… The news services are salivating over the Mubarak Family fortune estimated to be 40-70 BILLION dollars. THIS but not one word on the disturbing trend of US backed strongman dictators stealing our aid money to keep their people under control so corporate special interests can exploit their resources.
Instead we get sound bites of constipated Republican curmudgeons calling protestors “thugs”. The Egyptian people should accept their $7 per month slave wage… shut up and be happy, right John McCain?
Simply put, the people of the world always seem to pay for the sins of very few wealthy, powerful, silver spoon, trust fund babies. COME ON! Anyone who reads already knows the “Confessions of an Economic Hitman”. A human with feelings and compassion understands the meaning behind “the Shock Doctrine”.
Most Americans have no idea the USA is now on the economic “hit list”. We’re not citizens anymore, the aristocrats see us as consumers only. AND the greedy bastards would bring back slavery if they could but the Convict Lease System is the next best thing. The Conservative ideology turned us all into the United Suckers of America.
Concerned Citizens want to make sure the children know our history. Let them never forget that it was the Cheney/Rumsfeld neo-conservatives who financed, trained and armed Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Lunatic before they became our enemies. Ohhh and let’s not forget how the George W. Bush Administration armed trained and financed those special drug agents in Mexico who now work for the drug traffickers…
I’ve got 100’s of examples like that but those silver spoon conservative @!$%#s like Jonah Goldberg, Ann Coulter, Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh use their precious national broadcast airtime to BLAME Liberals for all the problems the USA is facing…
The Republicans, these small minded Conservative wackos elect, drag us deeper into the abyss. Over 30 years of miserable failures in foreign, domestic and economic policies. Waste, fraud, abuse of power, scandal, corruption, sexual deviancy, media consolidation, contracted shoddy workmanship, welfare for the rich, arms dealing, job outsourcing, war profiteering, constitutional violations and a corporate crime wave of epic proportions.
Republican/Conservative LOW GRADE THOUGHT PROCESSES are the root of America’s problems. They’ve infiltrated local governments, school boards and the Judiciary with the goal of putting corporate interests ahead of the Citizens they supposedly represent. Conflicts of interest, legal bribery, tilted textbooks, revised history, deregulation, Citizens United, etc has led to disasters few can comprehend or not one Republicans has the courage to take responsibility for… Conservative ideology has failed on every level.
The only thing keeping this right wing phenomenon alive are the billions of dollars stolen on Wall St or BILLIONS from foreign investors such as Rupert Murdoch, the Saudi Royals and Communist China. Let’s not forget the 18 to 30% of Conservative wacko, Sarah Palin/Glenn Beck groupies who got played for fools… BIGTIME!
“Destroy from within”, right? These seditious, CPAC, chicken hawk traitors must be stopped before they completely destroy all the USA stands for and turn FREEDOM into a delicate concept. NOW! It’s time for the USA to have an “Egyptian moment”
See cyberbitchslap2.blogspot.com
Democrats are as elitist as Republicans. A week ago Hillary was spouting off the U.S. support for Suleiman. They don't get it. The people in Egypt have spoken. Social networking is changing strong-arm politics. The next 50 years should be interesting.