by Erik Bonthron

Created on: February 14, 2011   Last Updated: February 16, 2011

Though I like to see a free form of government in the middle east, and fully support the Egyptian people in the current endeavor, I see this as a bad thing for Israel. We have here in the west traded on the stability that the dictatorship in Egypt has created. Almost thirty years of military style civil control, and emergency police powers has been an oppressive force over the people of Egypt it has led to stabilty in the region.

Mubarek's policy of following the Camp David accords and not retracting the peace process that Sadat started has allowed the region to flourish both economically as well as culturally. The enforced peace has allowed Israel a chance to develop without the pressure of yet another hostile regime on their western flank.

The dangers of the revolution in Egypt though are clear. We banter words like free and fair elections around like that will solve the worlds problems, yet here at the heart of the democratic process, we still have calls of corruption and we have been doing this for over 250 years. Do we really expect the elections if they even happen to be free and fair? Do we sit by and allow a hostile regime to usurp the government of this strategic area or will we interfere? If we threaten of even posture like we would is it free and fair? Their is a lot of anger and resentment between the Israelis and Arabs of the region and has been for years. Though the tensions ebb and flow they are and will continue to be a powder keg for the minority that use these events to empower themselves.

The danger of the other surrounding Arab states revolting and throwing out the sitting governments has to be terrifying. The chances of friendly regimes in these other areas are slim to none. As we sit here in the west and watch as these events unfold around the world, we have a habit of looking through our eyes at the situation (this one and any other around the world). The reality though is that the Israelis are living in a country smaller than the State of New Jersey. They both have a coastline and this is where the similarities end. Imagine that the States of New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware, were at constant war or threat of war with you. Welcome to Israel. Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and Saudi Arabia as well as Iraq are all near neighbors. Of all these, only Egypt has been not so much as friendly but more like not overtly threatening to the country. When one is surrounded by enemies, then any instability in the countries around them will lead to concern. Multiply this by each neighbor and not knowing what the people will choose for a form of government and it is a recipe for disaster.

So even though I advocate the Egyptians taking control of their country, I do fear for the state of Israel.

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