Ayoon Wa Azan (Experience in terror, not economics)

Some of them are engaged in terrorism, but none of them know anything about the economy. But who are they? Over the weekend, our newspaper ran news stories about the ongoing killing in Syria, about 30 people killed in clashes between demonstrators in Egypt, about more than 70 killed in Somalia, and about thousands of militants in Sinai and army casualties. There were other stories about 23 dead in two suicide bombings targeting Afghan troops, more than 20 Iraqis killed in 24 hours, 42 people, mostly students, killed in Nigeria, and 40 Egyptians killed in another day. And certainly, there will be more casualties and numbers today. I was not searching for news on killing, and was just reading Al-Hayat, as usual every morning, so this is what I found. It is likely that 99 percent of the victims of those killings were Muslim, killed by other Muslims. This reminds me of an article published by the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, written by commentator Alex Fishman. Fishman attacked Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel generals who he wrote were anxious to wage war, and said that 400 to 500 people are being killed each day in the countries surrounding Israel. He concluded his article by criticizing Netanyahu and the generals for wanting to start a war that would give the peoples around Israel a reason to unite around the only common denominator they have, namely, hatred towards Israel. Word-for-word, he wrote, “Let them kill themselves quietly. The Lebanon-bound weapons are dangerous, but are not an existential threat. It's not the Iranian bomb.” Thus, Muslims are killing one another, and an Israeli commentator wants them to continue doing so, including by refraining from any Israeli military intervention in Lebanon or elsewhere. All Israeli newspapers expect a civil war to take place in Egypt. Smadar Peri, also in Yedioth Ahronoth, wrote that the Islamists would go underground and form a military wing to carry out terrorist attacks and assassinations against the new regime, as happened in the 1990s under Mubarak. I did not need to read predictions in the Israeli press to remember events that happened in the 1990s, and which I had followed with the late Omar Suleiman year after year. However, I noticed that Smadar Peri’s op-ed was published on July 5, and indeed, the Brotherhood’s Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie did not contradict it: On the same day, he gave a speech at the Rabea al-Adawiyya Square, and said, “We sacrifice our blood for the president’s return,” inciting Brotherhood supporters to confront the army, or in other words, fight a civil war. Shortly afterwards, an attack took place against the Republican Guard HQ, and Egyptian soldiers were killed at the hands of Egyptian terrorists. The Muslim Brotherhood has more experience in terror than in economics, but I will not accuse them today of terrorism. I just want to say that they lost power after failing on every level, and after precipitating a popular uprising even larger than that of 2011. I am trying to be objective, and say that the majority of the Brotherhood’s supporters are probably against terrorism. But what has always happened is that the terrorist groups would emerge from under cloak of the Muslim Brotherhood. The 1990s are an example of this that all the Egyptians know well. Indeed, groups like al-Jamaah al-Islamiyah, al-Takfir wal Hijra, al-Jihad, and Talaeie al-Fath all engaged in terrorism, killing Egyptians along with foreign tourists from Cairo to Luxor. These groups were ultimately defeated by the security services, but the price was high and many innocent lives were lost. Today, there are developments carrying the precursors of a new wave of terror, which I find graver than those of the terrorism in the 1990s. The Muslim Brotherhood leaders can object as they like, but it is their duty to prevent their supporters from engaging in terrorism. Otherwise, they will be responsible if it happens. This is what I hope for Egypt and the Brotherhood, so I call for a political truce during Ramadan, the holy fasting month. However, at the same time, I insist that the armed forces and the security services all strike with an iron fist, to prevent any violence or armed assaults. For one thing, Egypt cannot tolerate any major security incidents, and the Egyptians are in dire need to work and produce in safety, security, and peace, to make up for the year squandered by the Brotherhood in power. If the situation in Egypt collapses, then the same will happen in every neighboring Arab country. For this reason, this is something that must be precluded absolutely, and the only acceptable option is civil peace and a civilian democratic regime that can accommodate everyone. The views expressed by the author do not necessarily represent or reflect the editorial policy of Arabstoday.