TFLE01: EGYPT: JULY 26 DEMONSTRATIONS

UNCLAS CAIRO 004611 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS NSC for Mike Singh E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL EG SUBJECT: TFLE01: EGYPT: JULY 26 DEMONSTRATIONS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: On July 26, an estimated 1000 Egyptians gathered in Cairo's central Tahrir Square to protest Israeli attacks on Lebanon and Palestine and to criticize a perceived lack of response on the part of Arab governments. Police cordoned off the protesters and several violent scuffles broke out, although the protest ended relatively peacefully with no serious injuries or arrests reported. The Muslim Brothers' parliamentary group is asking for permission to hold a major rally on August 15, and, together with other parliamentary groups, is collecting signatures required to call a special parliamentary session to discuss support for the Lebanese and Palestinian resistance. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) An estimated 1000 Egyptian demonstrators gathered in Midan Tahrir (Liberation Square),in central Cairo between 6 and 9 p.m. on July 26. The demonstrators condemned Israel's killing of Lebanese civilians, expressed support for the Hezbollah militia, and urged Arab regimes to get tough. They waved Lebanese and Hezbollah flags, carried portraits of Nasrallah, and held up photos of wounded Lebanese civilians. Chanted slogans included, "Down, down, Hosni Mubarak," "Down with the US-Israeli terrorist alliance," "Shame, shame: Egyptian soldiers left the battle," and "Where are the Arab armies?" One banner read, "Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon: who's next?" According to photographs and eyewitness reports, hundreds of police were also present. During the demonstrations a large force of riot police formed a cordon around the protesters while baton-wielding plainclothes officers scuffled with some demonstrators and journalists. ¶3. (SBU) The demonstration was organized days in advance by the protest group Kefaya in collaboration with the Wafd, Nasserite, Ghad, Tagamma and Labor parties and the Youth for Change movement. Online blog postings for the protest asked those attending to bring Lebanese and Palestinian flags. These postings featured a slogan, addressed to Arab leaders, reading, "Your Majesties, Your Excellencies... Spit on You!" According to local Embassy staff, the Muslim Brotherhood was not well-representated at the demonstration. Despite the long lead time, this demonstration was significantly smaller and less violent than the May 2006 protest in support of the Egyptian judges. Those judges had been arrested after filing a complaint about government interference in the 2005 Parliamentary elections. ¶4. (U) July 26 was also the fiftieth anniversary of the nationalization of the Suez Canal by former Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser. In recent Cairo demonstrations, Egyptian protesters have chanted slogans comparing Hezbollah head Nasrallah to the Arab nationalist leader Nasser, while in the press, Nasser has been hailed for having "stood up" to the Israelis during the Suez Crisis and the Six Days War. Editorials have contrasted Nasser with Mubarak, who is accused of being too conciliatory in his dealings with Israel. At the July 26 demonstration, for example, protestors denounced Mubarak for comments published in the Egyptian press on Wednesday, including the statement that "those who urge Egypt to go to war to defend Lebanon or Hezbollah are not aware that the time of exterior adventures is over." ¶5. (U) The Muslim Brothers' parliamentary members are planning to request permission from the Minister of Interior for a major rally at Cairo's stadium on August 15. The Muslim Brothers, along with NDP and opposition members, also plan to meet Sunday to collect signature of 50 percent of parliament members to submit a request to the President - according to the constitution - to hold a "special session" at the parliament to discuss means of supporting the Lebanese and Palestinian resistance.