Does someone have the right to express his upset and unhappiness at the visit of the delegation of the American Jewish Organizations to Cairo? Can they also be similarly uncomfortable about the statements made by the presidential spokesman and the content of the meeting held with President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi?

The visit was basically not welcomed from the beginning and the statements made about it did not accurately reflect the expected position of Egypt. The media coverage was also shy and tried to hide more than they disclosed facts to the public.

Therefore I think that the visit has deducted much from the position of Egypt and its weight in the region and it did not even contribute to preserving its position and maintaining it in neutral balance. The delegation represents the Zionist “lobby” in the US which is hostile to Arabs in general and Palestinians in particular. At the same time it represents the strong central power supporting the Israeli far right-wing and usually supports the positions of the “Likud” party and all the Zionist extremist parties. Therefore it acts like the frontline of defense for Israel in the US. It not only represents a lobby pressuring the US government but also serves the Israeli interests in all of its foreign activities.

It is not a secret that Jewish groups such as the American Jewish Organizations are the most enthusiastic in defending President Abdel Fattah Al- Sisi not for other things but for the announcement he made about the war against terrorism which made him calm down the conflict with Israel.

These organizations were keen to explain that a major change happened in the position of Egypt- as if a coup took place in its policy which was a turning the page in the conflict- Cairo got rid of its commitments to defend the Palestine issue and its commitment to Arab security!

So the visit was aiming in the first place at defending Israeli interests and this is enough reason to make people like me unhappy and to object.

What the presidential spokesman said about the delegation’s meeting with President Al Sisi was also unwelcome. The spokesperson said that Al Sisi stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation with the US and of moving it into a new phase which suits the regional and international changes taking place especially regarding the danger of terrorism pointing out the efforts conducted by Egypt to fight terror and correct the religious discourses.

The above was a quotation from Al Ahram newspaper about the visit which was highlighted by the newspaper on its front page on Friday February 2. After the headlines Al Ahram carried the statement of the Presidential spokesman who said “The President emphasised the importance of pushing forward the peace process between the Palestinians and Israelis. He pointed out the necessity of achieving a just and comprehensive peace for a permanent settlement to the conflict in order to allow countries of the region to achieve the long awaited sustainable economic and social development”.

Some other headlines carried by the Egyptian newspapers on Friday about the same visit included the following:-

Q “Strengthening the cooperation with America in line with the regional and global changes.” “The President said: there is a need to push the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians” (Ahram).

Q“Sisi told the American Jewish organization delegation “Achieving just and comprehensive peace is important step to fight terrorism” (Al Akhbar). “Sisi to the American Jewish delegation- ‘Making peace will end terrorism’ (Al Mesri Al Yaum).

Q“Sisi: Middle East peace will end terrorism (Al Watan).

Q“Sisi told the delegation that ties between Cairo and Washington is strategic permanent and stable”. “Making peace end terrorism and pave way for development” (Al Jamhouria).

QSo do these statements really reflect the conscience of the Egyptian citizens and the strategic view of the state? I can’t answer yes or no but I can’t believe this is all that Egypt wants to say in this regard- especially when it comes to a delegation of an American Jewish organization which support the Israeli terror practices with money and marketing propaganda!

What I understand is that terrorism in Egypt is a local matter while the confrontation of the Israeli terror should top Egypt’s foreign policy. Also it is not fair to put on a similar level the murderer and the victim who is the Palestinian issue. The aim of making just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East is not only the achievement of economic and social development but before this comes the liberation of occupied lands and return of refugees to their home land which they have been forced to leave.

I feel sad when I compare the Egyptian position with that of Sweden whose foreign minister condemned the Israeli terror practices or with the position of Brazil which refused to receive the Israeli ambassador who is a leader of the Jewish settlers in Palestine. Again I feel despondent when comparing this Egyptian capitulation with the honourable stand of the European Parliament in its decision to refuse to recognize the Israeli settlements and their products or with the successful academic boycott of Israel in the US and Canada. Our generation knows that Egypt should be the first in doing this. Justifications being given by Sisi in order to turn a blind eye to the Israeli terror practices or to keep silent against the Israeli official statements are not acceptable at all. The Jerusalem Post quoted on February 6 the Minister of Energy Yuval Steinitz saying: “Egypt destroyed the tunnels to the Gaza strip upon Israeli request”. According to the BBC on February 8 this statement caused the anger of the Israeli Defense Ministry but we never heard any remarks from the Egyptian side. This is another confusing reason for people like me to feel sad and ashamed.

The writer is an Egyptian journalist & columnist.