Egypt emerges as major Middle East mediator with Israel-Gaza cease-fire

Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi -- then a candidate -- talks to his supporters at Tahrir Square, the focal point of Egyptian uprising, during his speech in Cairo, Egypt on June 29, 2012. / AP Photo/Amr Nabil

CAIRO The Gaza cease-fire deal reached Thursday marks a startling trajectory for Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi: an Islamist leader who refuses to talk to Israelis or even say the country's name mediated for it and finally turned himself into Israel's de facto protector.

The accord inserts Egypt to an unprecedented degree into the conflict between Israel and Hamas, establishing it as the arbiter ensuring that militant rocket fire into Israel stops and that Israel allows the opening of the long-blockaded Gaza Strip and stops its own attacks against Hamas.

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In return, Morsi emerged as a major regional player. He won the trust of the United States and Israel, which once worried over the rise of an Islamist leader in Egypt but throughout the week-long Gaza crisis saw him as the figure most able to deliver a deal with Gaza's Hamas rulers.

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"I want to thank President Morsi for his personal leadership to de-escalate the situation in Gaza and end the violence," U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who met Morsi Thursday, said at a Cairo press conference with Egypt's foreign minister announcing the accord.

"This is a critical moment for the region. Egypt's new government is assuming the responsibility and leadership that has long made this country a cornerstone of regional stability and peace," she said.

After Israel launched its assault on Gaza a week ago, aimed at stopping militant rocket fire, Morsi's palace in a Cairo suburb became the Middle East's diplomacy central.

He held talks with Turkey's prime minister and the emir of Qatar, Germany's foreign minister and a host of top Arab officials to get them behind his mediation. An Israeli envoy flew secretly into Cairo for talks with Egyptian security officials, though Morsi did not meet or speak directly with any Israelis.

Throughout it all, Morsi and his aides sided openly with Hamas, accusing Israel of starting the assault and condemning its bombardment, which has killed more than 140 Palestinians. Five Israelis have been killed by Hamas rocket fire during the battle.

Morsi hails from the fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's most powerful political group and Hamas' own parent organization. Brotherhood leaders, including Morsi, refuse to speak to Israeli officials. Morsi hasn't even said the name of the country publicly since he was inaugurated in late June, though he has referred to its people as "Israelis."

In ideology, the Brotherhood supports the use of force against Israel to liberate "Muslim lands." Only two months ago, Brotherhood supreme leader Mohammed Badie proclaimed that regaining Jerusalem can "only come through holy jihad." The group opposes Egypt's 1979 peace treaty with Israel.

President Obama talks on the phone with Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, aboard Air Force One in flight from Phnom Penh, Cambodia to Washington, D.C., Nov. 20, 2012, as National Security Advisor Tom Donilon listens.

/ White House/Pete Souza

But since coming to power, the group has had to yield to pragmatism. The Brotherhood and Morsi have promised to abide by the peace accord. Through a military operation and through dialogue, Morsi has tried to rein in Islamic militants in the Sinai Peninsula who have attacked Egyptian security forces and across the border into Israel.

When the Israeli offensive began, President Barack Obama spoke to Morsi after talking to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. While Obama and Morsi disagreed over whom to blame for the violence, they agreed to work together to halt it.

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That Israel was comfortable with an Islamist like Morsi mediating may not be a measure of trust as much as a realization that only the Egyptians can persuade their Hamas cousins to enter a deal and ensure an end to rocket attacks.

The cease-fire announced Thursday defines Egypt as the "sponsor" of the deal to which each side would appeal over violations. That potentially puts Egypt in the uncomfortable position of ensuring militants in Gaza don't fire rockets. If the deal falls apart -- whichever side is to blame -- Egypt could face damage to its credibility or strained ties with one side or the other.

Egypt's first freely elected president, Morsi also handled the Gaza conflict in a way starkly contrasting with his predecessor, longtime authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak, who was toppled nearly two years ago.

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[Plumbline9]

There will now be tremendous pressure on Israel to give up more land for peace. The U.S. and the U.N. will now try and force Israel into a 2 state solution. If that happens, the hatred would not end. Iran and other extremists would simply use a new state to fan the fires of hatred even more, except the new palestinian state would become armed to the teeth by those of likemind..................

[jimbosmith2910]

there is an idiot who calls himself as Dr. Brzezinski claimed he is an expert in middle east. he said Egypt won't be able to help to stop the conflict. idiot like him should not allow to speak.

[tsigili]

Time will tell, whether they are indeed peacemaker, or if they have other motives.

The fact so much weaponry flowed through Egypt, into Gaza in the first place, is of major concern.

[jeannutson]

A careful analysis of This deal shows an obvious deception and serious act of hypocrisy on all sides involved in the conflict and the negotiation process it could be best described as a hoax as it clearly shows the mediator and the parties involved were acting against their deep seated feelings and only interested in gaining a popularity and a ceasefire that remains very fragile since the root cause of the violence still remains unresolved.

[JerusalemCenter]

"Hamas views each round of armed conflict with Israel as a stage in a long-term war of attrition. Hamas leaders hope the increasingly severe and violent outbreaks will eventually erode Israel's resilience, while goading the masses toward the emergence of a united military front for the liberation of Palestine. "

this is something that must be taken into account when discussing the viability of a long time cease fire between both sides.

http://jcpa.org/article/the-long-term-implications-of-the-israel-hamas-clash/

[robert1129]

The era where the USA was the world's policeman has passed. We no longer have the responsibility for maintaining peace in the world with its terrible burden. Obama has established the policy that the international community has to take the lead with the USA in a supporting role. The savings in billions and lives and other resources are tremendous. These can be used in the USA for other needed purposes and our borrowings can decease dramatically. Had Romney been elected, he would have chosen an opposite course.

[gracescalia]

Notice how the Arabs are always trying to "broker" a peace deal or whatever *INSTEAD OF* giving money or arms to their "brothers" in Palestine to defend themselves. They never really have. Why not? Its because the Arab League *probably wishes* that Hamas would just "disappear."

The fact that Hamas' radical wing is difficult to control (there's always some kook who'll launch a missile out of revenge), means that hamas is BAD for business in the Arab-controlled middle east. Its essentially economics. The arabs do NOT invest in causes they cannot win (just look at the "six-day-war" for proof), and they've basically proved it over-the-years by NOT funding or arming hamas in an "above-board" manner.

[gracescalia]

Yeah, well, this "mediation" and its success ALL goes "out the window" when that ONE idiot radical Hamas member screws-up, launching that single cease-fire breaking missile into Israel. And, Hamas has a problem controlling their extremist wing, so Vegas has odds-on favorite that it'll happen. If and when it does, and especially with Netanyahu at the helm, WATCH OUT. Israel will POUNCE. They out-gun Hamas 10:1, and are VERY organized and can project power using their own tanks, our F-16's and money we give them ($70,000,000 of our tax-dollars given by Obama to fortify the "iron dome" missle defense system, for example), and their tenacious military.

[realtimecoffee]

Arab on Arab death meh, Jew on Arab violent outrage. See the difference?

[xieksis]

If it works out then GREAT...

If it does not then Isreal can just start over where they left off...

Which is where the smart money is...

[realtimecoffee]

The weapons industry.