ANTI-ISRAEL INITIATIVES FROM EGYPTIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 005362

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR RICK WATERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/23/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL EG
SUBJECT: ANTI-ISRAEL INITIATIVES FROM EGYPTIAN
OPPOSITIONISTS IN THE WAKE OF LEBANON CRISIS


Classified By: Minister-Counselor for Economic and
Political Affairs William R. Stewart for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: In the wake of the Lebanon crisis, Egyptian
oppositionists across the political spectrum are
concentrating their attention on anti-Israel initiatives,
rather than their usual pro-reform efforts. Most notably,
the Egyptian opposition movement Kefaya recently launched a
"One Million Signatures" petition calling for the
cancellation of the Camp David Accords. While anti-Camp
David Accords rhetoric is pro forma from the Muslim
Brotherhood, it is notable that some leading liberal
activists are now taking up the mantra. End summary.


2. (SBU) According to the Kefaya website, their "One Million
Signatures" petition calling for the end of the Camp David
Accords now has approximately 100,000 signatures. On August
21, Kefaya spokesman George Ishaq told reporters that after 1
million Egyptians have signed, the document will be formally
delivered to Parliament to demand abrogation of the treaty.
Ishaq also reportedly stated that a broad-based legal
committee, composed of representatives from "different
political forces," has been formed to "study the legal and
political aspects of the treaty, so that a cancellation of it
would not subject Egypt to resulting political woes." Among
the committee members are Dr. Aziz Sidqi (former Prime
Minister, and current president of the Egyptian National
Front for Change) and Yehya El Gamal (co-founder of the new
liberal Democratic Front Party).


3. (SBU) According to press reports, the National Front for
Change also held an August 16 Executive Bureau meeting, at
which the attendees "demanded the Egyptian government
renounce the Camp David Treaty, because of the many dangers
it poses to Egypt." The meeting was reportedly attended by a
wide range of oppositionists, including Sidqi, Ishaq, Muhamed
Ali Bishr (from the Guidance Bureau of the Muslim
Brotherhood),Muhamed Alwan (Al Wafd Party),Rafiq Habib
(Coptic intellectual),and others. (Note: The National Front
for Change is an opposition coalition formed in October 2005,
directly prior to the parliamentary elections. Following the
elections, the Front became largely inactive and fraught by
internal dissension between members of different political
parties. End Note). In a related development, the Egyptian
Organization for Human Rights is reportedly organizing a
conference "aiming to take basic measures in suing Israeli
war criminals."


4. (SBU) According to press reports, Muslim Brotherhood MP's
are planning to launch a "large-scale campaign" to boycott
Israeli and U.S. goods. MB MP Yasier Humud commented to
reporters on August 14 that "the campaign would take a
special unprecedented form whereby lists of Israeli and U.S.
products will be prepared and distributed to the public, so
they would be boycotted in protest against the Israeli
aggression on Lebanon and Palestine, and against the U.S.
assistance to Israel in this aggression."


5. (C) COMMENT: While anti-Camp David Accords rhetoric is pro
forma from the Muslim Brotherhood, it is notable that some
leading liberal activists are now taking up the mantra.
Public sentiment, particularly in the current environment,
appears sympathetic to such calls. The GOE's commitment to
the accords, however, remains firm.
RICCIARDONE