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