More than 50 days have passed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the attitude in the Middle East towards the war is ambiguous at best. Apart from formal statements from various governments in the region that claim “neutrality,” public reaction is still confused, misguided, and dominated by resentment towards the United States, instead of focusing on the human tragedy playing out in Ukraine as a nation.
From the beginning of the Ukraine war, Arabs have considered the conflict solely through the prism of a revival of the Cold War between Russia and the United States. Apologism and justifications for the Russian invasion have been all over social media since the beginning of the conflict, with expressions such as Russia was “dragged,” “tricked,” or “provoked.” As Merissa Khurma has written, many Arab analysts are not convinced by Western “hysteria” over the Ukraine crisis. Moreover, rather than decrying Russia’s unlawful invasion of a sovereign state, many Arabs have denounced the ‘double standard’ of sports bans on Russia. In other words, it has been the responses of Western countries that have irked Arabs, rather than Russian aggression.
Within the Arab psyche, it seems Ukraine as a nation and the will and aspirations of the Ukrainian people are not part of the narrative that is shaping their opinion towards the war. Ironically, in a region that built its entire cultural narratives on concepts of resistance, jihad, and anti-colonialism, many are resenting Ukraine for resisting Russian occupation. Such an attitude prevails not just among traditional allies of Russia in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, but also in countries like Egypt and the Gulf States.
In fact, the war in Ukraine has highlighted how the most unifying factor among Arab political factions, whether they are leftists, Nasserites, nationalists, or capitalists, is their collective resentment of the United States; often for conflicting reasons. It was interesting to see an overlap between the anti- and pro-Iran camps in the region. Both projected an understanding of Russian motives in Ukraine, and regard the war in Ukraine as an opportunity to voice their grievances towards the US. Each camp resents the US for different reasons; Iran sees the US as its archenemy, while regional opponents of Iran resent the US for not standing strong against Iran, and for its efforts to reach a nuclear deal with the Mullahs in Tehran at any price. Both camps, however, see Russia as an alternative ally that can stand against perceived American hegemony over the global order.
The same contradiction is seen in Turkey, where, as Suat Kınıklıoğlu wrote, both Nationalist-Islamism and Eurasianism overlap, as they both despise Western dominance in the international order, feel threatened by the liberal cultural-civilizational siege of the West, and thus have a common counter-hegemonic view of the world. In Egypt, Mohamed Salmawy wrote, “a third bloc is needed”, one that yearns for the 50s, and the Non-aligned Movement, led by Egypt, India, and Yugoslavia.
Arab media outlets’ coverage of the conflict, while claiming neutrality, is full of ambiguity and subtle bias towards Russia. Most, if not all, of the Arab media start the news with almost identical themes that include “Russia says,” “Russia did,” or “Russia claims,’ which has triggered positive bias towards Russia among their followers.
It is perhaps understandable to see how the conflict in Ukraine is used as an excuse to lash out against the Biden administration’s policies that have neither supported America’s traditional allies in the region, nor stood firm against US enemies such as the Mullahs’ regime in Tehran. Nonetheless, such ambiguous handling of the war in Ukraine is worrisome to say the least, and for many reasons:
First, Russia can’t balance US dominance
It is a mistake to assume that Putin’s Russia will counter what Arabs perceive as “US hegemony.” Historically, apart from its rule in the Syrian civil war, Russia has a poor record of supporting any Arab cause. It failed to help Iraq, Libya, and the Palestinian cause. The economic impacts of this war, together with the crippling US sanctions on Russia will limit its influence and ability to navigate the global order. Furthermore, its strong relations with the regime in Tehran will limit its ability to support Arab Gulf states in their quest to limit Iran’s destructive regional policies.
Second, calls for a “third bloc” are equally delusional. The fifties Non-aligned Movement (NAM) tried to transcend the Cold War, but the NAM ended up as one of the Cold War’s chief victims. The group eventually moved closer to the Soviet camp and lagged behind the Western world on all fronts, militarily, technologically, and economically. Furthermore, denying Ukraine’s right to self- determination is an insult to all the values of the NAM and the anti-colonial stance of all Arabs.
Third, fanning the flame of anti-Americanism is counter-productive. Crying about American’s double standards exposes Arabs’ own bias and inconsistencies. Arabs behave as if they are not too bothered about colonialism and imperialism when it’s being conducted by a non-Western actor, and they only unleash their anger against what they perceive as American imperialism. While they bitterly remember the US invasion of Iraq, Arabs forget how the ex-Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait and denied its legitimacy as a sovereign nation, which, in many ways, resembles how Putin handles Ukraine.
Regardless of the outcome of the war in Ukraine, the current ambiguity and soft stance towards Russian aggression will have negative long-term impacts on the Arab world. It will destroy the moral compass of young Arabs, who will grow increasingly susceptible to conspiracy theories, tolerant towards injustices as long as they are committed by non-Western actors, and cynical about the universal values of freedom and the right to self-determination.
It’s time for Arabs to remove their biased Cold War cloak and look at Ukraine as a country yearning to be liberated from its colonial master. Arabs must recognize the sovereignty of independent states, from the West and the East, and reject the bullying, aggression, and catastrophic destruction of human life that has characterized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine is not Russia, exactly as Kuwait is not part of Iraq, and Lebanon is not part of Iran. It is about time to stand for Ukraine, regardless of our grievances about American policies in the region.
Egypt steps up efforts to fulfill its water needs. Asharq Al-Awsat
From Twitter
#Egypt, the world’s top #wheat importer, has approved India as a supplier to fill a sizeable void in the North African nation’s food stocks due to the Ukraine conflict.
▪️Examine aspects of the bilateral and strategic relations ▪️Discuss a number of international & regional issues ▪️Affirm the importance of continuing consultations and coordination
#Egypt: In Cairo, at the start of a 3 day visit for discussions with Government, Civil Society, Parliamentarians, NCHR and others, about particular #HumanRights matters.
#Greece is taking seriously its owns potential gas resources. The govt will expedite the mapping of potential gas fields by 2023, aiming for extraction by 2027. Focus in offshore areas will speed up processes in line with the model of other regional countries such as #Egypt. pic.twitter.com/WxjJuqgpN4
Egypt is digging a man-made river to pump recycled and treated wastewater into the desert to reclaim 3 million new acres, and transform them into productive agricultural land. pic.twitter.com/Nhz3P1zaTR
Another gas price hike in Egypt. The social contract successive Egyptian govs had with the people is now gone. You keep us in power, we give you subsidies. This is no more. I understand, with reservations, the economic implications that led to the end of this equilibrium, but..
Some are criticizing singer Amir Eid, who sang some of the revolution's popular songs, for endorsing the Decent Life initiative. I disagree. Any attempt, by anyone including the Egypt gov or regime, to improve living conditions of the poor should be encouraged and supported.
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry is in Washington to quell US concerns over Cairo's ambivalent position on Ukraine may face an uphill battle due to long-standing concerns in DC over the human rights record of Egypt, one of the largest recipients of US military & economic funding.
The first direct flight between Israel and Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh since the two countries agreed to launch the flights, has just landed 🇮🇱🇪🇬
Famous Koshry restaurant branch in #Egypt closed, after refusing service to Christian woman before Iftar https://t.co/z5e2HgM8ns convoluted story, as branch says it was an individual action and not company policy; what if a Muslim had requested early supper? pic.twitter.com/Bg5odt5gcC
Pesach is a festival of liberation, commemorating the Jews leaving Egypt, and the seder plate we have is full of symbolic foods. This year, we’ve added flour to make us think of Ukraine, today’s most urgent liberatory struggle pic.twitter.com/l6KiOzTZwi
Time to visit our neighbours at #Egypt after almost 7 hours at the border due to dozen of Israelis that are visiting I’ve started my Passover vacation in Sinai May you have a great #Easter & #Ramadan Mubarak 🐬💙❤️🐪🐟🐠🐡 pic.twitter.com/mKYke5w2vl
— Shmuel Shalom שמואל سمؤال عبد السلام (@ShmuelShalom) April 17, 2022
pleased with The Red Sea resorts from Sharm El Sheikh to Taba welcoming direct flights from Qatar and Israel,hope they get full of tourists from all nationalities, from all over the world. A late result of President Sadat’s peace initiative,it got him killed,he is smiling now.
VIDEO: 🇪🇬 'Shaggy', 'messy', 'unprofessional' — natural curls were once looked down on in Egypt, where Western beauty standards favoured straight locks. One Cairo studio that caters to women and men alike is part of an aesthetic liberation movement pic.twitter.com/7cj3HF3Kka
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I read several important Twitter threads on the conflict that are worth reading. However, I choose those three threads ( plus few other tweets)because they highlight important angles of the conflict and debunk many myths.
To talk about Ukrainian nationalism, we first have to establish the context of the relationship between Ukraine and Russia. These are not just countries sharing a common border. Our relationship is that of an empire and its colony.
The Russian empire erases the culture of its colonies. The captured lands are renamed Russia, ethnically cleansed, and/or forcibly assimilated. For Ukraine, this manifested in several genocidal famines, and a centuries-long policy of elimination of the language and culture.
…and defensive nationalism, poised to preserve traditions and identities.” Defensive nationalism is common to peoples whose identity is in existential danger.
That said, although Ukraine has been oppressed and colonized throughout its history, there are many horrific examples of atrocities and mistreatment against Roma, Jews, Poles, and others, committed by Ukrainians.
Now, let us look more at the far-right movement. As in many European countries, there are right-wing parties in Ukraine. But unlike places such as Hungary, Italy, and others, in Ukraine, such parties have tiny support.https://t.co/qQ4ubFYXg9
Thus, the actual scale of the far-right problem in Ukraine was significantly overblown by the Western media (and Russian propaganda), especially compared to incredible progress in recent years despite the war raging since 2014https://t.co/GfVtN4S4Yq
Russia wants the world to believe they are “de-nazifying” Ukraine, implying Russia is free of neo-Nazism. But of course, this is very far from the truth.
An essential element of such nationalism is the idea of one's own greatness, which becomes a justification for territorial expansion beyond Russia's existing borders.
Despite this, I think Russian nationalism is weakly covered in Western media, even when relevant. For several years, Alexei Navalny has been an example of the systemic struggle against the regime in authoritarian Russia. But even Russia's opposition has close ties to nationalism.
Navalny's nationalism is also evident in his stance on illegally annexed Crimea. When asked about Crimea, he replied that "Crimea is not a sandwich", and added: “Crimea will remain part of Russia and will never become part of Ukraine again in the near future."
TL;DR: Western media and Russian propaganda wildly inflate the problem of the Ukrainian far-right. The coverage fails to put the Ukrainian far-right in the larger context. Once done, it's evident that it is a tiny problem compared to Russian and even European right-wing movements
First, a bit about Medvedchuk. He has long been among the loudest advocates for Russian interests in Ukraine, as the leader of the pro-Russia Opposition Platform – For Life party, which was biggest opposition force in the Rada (Ukrainian parliament) against Pres Zelenskyy. 2/16
Medvedchuk was known to own Ukraine's ZIK, NewsOne and 112 TV channels, which have been linked to the Kremlin and were pushing pro-Putin propaganda in Ukraine. (Though officially, the owner was Medvedchuk's Opposition Platform colleague, MP Taras Kozak). 4/16
Let's put it to the Putin Table Test. Compare how closely Putin sits to Medvedchuk (Sputnik, March 2020) vs. how far he is from his defense minister & chief of the general staff of armed forces (2022). Sure, it's a different time, but Medvedchuk is at poisoning distance. 8/16 pic.twitter.com/RAgdJVwtFe
In 2014, the U.S. said Medvedchuk used his “resources or influence to support or act on behalf of senior Russian government officials,” sanctioning him following Russia’s invasion of Crimea. 10/16https://t.co/u65hMDc2Ay
So, in summary: Putin's (failed) plan for Ukraine appears to have been a quick invasion launched on Feb. 24 and over within the week. In that push, he planned to remove Zelenskyy and replace him with pro-Kremlin puppet government likely spearheaded by Medvedchuk & party. 12/16
Why is Medvedchuk's capture important? Ukraine has shown that even Putin's best bud can't evade its forces. "Let Medvedchuk be an example for you," Zelenskyy said last night. "Even the former oligarch did not escape … We will get everyone." 14/16https://t.co/1Ukn5HziLg
But this makes Putin look even weaker, and helps Zelenskyy and his forces look more competent, at a time when he needs to show the West his government and authorities are well run, and is asking for additional assistance in form of weapons and EU membership. 16/16
I finally came up with something close to an answer.
It is a paradoxical combination of extreme short-termism and extreme long-termism. A mix of myopia and hyperopia that did not allow the Kremlin and Putin personally to see the reality at hand. 2/15
In other words, Putin decided to play the only game he knows – the game of chicken – with the new US president. He probably thought that Biden was weak and would cave easily. 4/15
Biden, of course, did not cave and the Geneva talks in Summer 2021 brought no results. Again, Putin responded in the only way he knows – by raising the stakes and once more ordering to concentrate troops at the border. He also expanded his demands towards the US. 6/15
At this point, the invasion was the only option Putin perceived in the chicken game he himself started. If none of his demands are met, what else is there to do? Lose the game? Not a chance! 8/15
In sum, the logic of the game (as Putin perceived it) pushed him towards launching the invasion. Still, the gravity of the decision dawned upon him. This is when long-term, "historical" thinking kicked in. 10/15
As Volodymyr Artiukh noted, "The [Kremlin's] logic is: “There’s seven bad years ahead, but then we’ll have our hundred years of empire.” This is the frame of mind, if you read closely what the Russians are saying."
To sum up: the invasion was caused by extremely short-term and extremely long-term considerations. Basic common sense just disappeared between Putin's immediate desire to "show them" and the fantasy of "securing his place in history". 14/15
Perhaps none of this matters now. The decision is made. But the valiant Ukrainian resistance to this murderous aggression changed everything. Whatever Putin's motives, he was already taught a lesson. 15/15
"It was 14 years ago, in 2008, that Merkel, together with France's then president, Nicolas Sarkozy, helped block NATO's membership invitation to Ukraine during an alliance summit in Bucharest. They saw it as a provocation to Russia." https://t.co/kltdo5qtum
Woman tells how Russians were shocked how Ukrainians lived – "They have all houses made of bricks, laptops and Nutella in every house – it can't be," pic.twitter.com/223aDNib4q
Before the russian murderers came, Mariupol was a cozy city where Greeks, Ukrainians and other ethnic groups lived in peace and harmony. That was the case in the rest of Ukraine as well. We have to bring russia to justice. Every murderer must be punished, from putin to a killer.
— Alexander Khara 🇺🇦 Αλέξανδρος Χαρά (@alexanderkhara) April 7, 2022
Maria Zakharova calling Ukranians "Soup Nazis". No joking. She is definitely drunk. Seinfeld crying 😢 https://t.co/prTVsDbxJE
Read this interview with Karaganov (reliable bellwether of 🇷🇺ruling elite majority consensus).
If afterwards you still harbor any illusions about sustainable negotiated settlement with Putin's Kremlin on European security order read it again. And again.https://t.co/PjbuJF8GoK
Egypt, which has recently sought IMF assistance, is set to overtake Turkey as the region's largest issuer of sovereign debt, with $73 billion worth of bond sales, S&P analysts forecast.https://t.co/izSbHXxiVT
In this week's Political Risk report 🔷Developing security situation in Tripoli 🔷Response of domestic stakeholders to freezing of #oil revenues 🔷Latest updates on GNU & GNS 🔷Cairo to host next Constitutional Track discussions Subscribe to our Free Trial https://t.co/SVhb7RXzeB
#Libya– in a raid on a compound in Bani Walid #GNU Unit 444 released 195 people (from Egypt, Sudan, Nigeria, Eritrea & Ethiopia) who were held for ransom (tortured, raped and starved) by human trafficking gangs. pic.twitter.com/1hDg9FTMgV
Cairo seeks to be an African political, economic, and security gateway to the rest of the continent, and on the other hand, it presents itself as an emerging strategic player with a growing footprint in the security and intelligence sectors across the continent.
Behind this “mentally unstable” murderer is a whole ideology of hate towards #Copts that must be dismantled. Reading Salafi clerics posts is enough to fill an entire society with hatred! https://t.co/pscAtHF1iL
From @/orthodoxsaintstories. This is so incredibly sad. Praying for his family and all of the Copts in Egypt facing persecution. pic.twitter.com/1COKvTMveh
Remembering the 47 Christian martyrs who were killed on 2017 Palm Sunday by ISIS affiliated terrorists at two churches in Egypt. pic.twitter.com/8WofmppEm7
When are you going to have a serious talk with the Ministry of Interior to explain that this camera-phobia, this insane paranoia, is hurting Egypt’s int’l image? You spend millions on CNN ads, to be wasted by the police. Talk to them! @TourismandAntiqhttps://t.co/snoyE9ibbu
After UAE poured $2B in Egypt, Qatar now plans to invest $5B in the nation’s struggling economy. #Egypt is one of the region's most indebted countries and a major food importer. It's seeking IMF assistancehttps://t.co/BX2ewAWsTt via @bpolitics@WahbaLatif@MiretteMagdy7
Egyptian FM Shoukri: We commemorated day before yesterday 43rd anniversary of peace between Egypt and Israel, Believe the path we set up 43 yrs ago is coming to a greater fruition and recognition of importance and viability of comprehensive peace and security for our region.
Shoukri’s only comment on the terrorist attack last night: We condemn all resorts to terrorism violence incitement believe its our role as members of intl community and Arab states…need to address the religious narrative and confront extremism and terrorism thereby provide peace
#EGYPT'S Foreign Ministry issued a statement Wednesday condemning Tuesday's deadly terror attack in #BneiBrak, #Israel. "We condemn the two shooting incidents that took place near #TelAviv & resulted in the deaths of five people & the injuries of others." pic.twitter.com/1PxVoUsD5a
High-level military delegation led by the Egyptian Armed Forces Chief of Staff LTG Osama Askar pays an official visit to Cyprus. 🇨🇾🇪🇬 pic.twitter.com/yPQNczkwYO
Israel’s 🇮🇱 Air Force @IAFsite is training in Greece 🇬🇷 with other nations. Two"Sufa" (F-16I) squadrons and a "Nachshon Eitam" (G550) are deployed. Egypt 🇪🇬, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦, Kuwait 🇰🇼, others are official observers. #iniochos22pic.twitter.com/vEiK6d1cA7
"Any short-term Israeli move to sell gas to the EU would likely rely on cooperation with Egypt, which has two liquefied natural gas terminals" https://t.co/SywUstv13a
"The discovery over the last decade of major natural gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean means Cyprus, Israel and Egypt could potentially enrich themselves while their exports through Greece and Italy would help Europe reduce its dependence on Russia." https://t.co/u11nhvbp0x
ANNOUNCING new historical data release–two Egypt census samples from the 19th century now available to users! Thanks to data produced by @msaleh1982. pic.twitter.com/lWgh8Ky3mX
Mo Salah has had a horrible 24 hours. Singled out for racist abuse on banners, bus smashed up, misses penalty due to lasers in eyes, then rushed by Senegal fans and thrown stuff at as leaving the pitch.
Need to get massively behind him at Anfield on Saturday lunch.
Yes, indeed this is a historic photo, but with behind this photo is more important. I see #Egypt’s #Sisi playing a delicate balancing act on several fronts, especially #Syria. pic.twitter.com/30U9hxrcN4
There is no #Arab consensus on #Syria. Some like #UAE#Jordan#Egypt believe for diff reasons in reintegrating #Syria/Assad back into Arab fold. Some like #KSA are still hesitant on this front & are waiting what will Assad do next. Some like #Qatar are opposed to this move.
Israel and Abraham Accord states are discussing a defense alliance to counter Iranian aggression, sources close to Foreign Minister @yairlapid said Sunday as the Negev Summit in Sde Boker began.
Biden administration policies hurt all US Mideast allies . Biden is in harmony with #Iran regime. #Israel, #Saudi, #UAE, #Bahrain, #Egypt risk #Iran regime sponsorship of terrorism, ballistic missiles. Only silver lining: Biden's policy will go away with it in 2024.
Today is 43rd anniversary of Camp David Peace agreement between #Egypt and #Israel. Thanks to the supplemental Abraham Accords, peace looks stronger than ever as Israel prepares to host 4 or 5 Arab Foreign Ministers tomorrow. Only #Iran regime and its militias oppose peace.
Our current account-based fair value model flagged a 15% overvaluation of the Egyptian Pound for the past year. Root cause for that overvaluation is the re-peg that happened after the 2016 devaluation (blue), which meant high inflation dragged up the real exchange rate (black)… pic.twitter.com/sLmvvYxHad
Devaluation of the Egyptian pound by 14% against the US dollar, increased interest rates to 9.75%, a price cap for the next 3 months — Egypt is the world's biggest wheat importer, with Russia and Ukraine accounting for 80% of its imports last yearhttps://t.co/jHo5wOJeMo
There is a different explanation to the rise of attacks in Israel. On March 17, IS published on its media photos of Wilayat #Sinai militants pledging allegiance to Qurashi. The attacks in Israel could be linked to that! @BenWeinthal@oritperlov https://t.co/eBuVexMNsi
Israel’s 🇮🇱 Air Force @IAFsite will join the massive Iniochos exercise with Greece 🇬🇷 and other nations. Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦, Egypt 🇪🇬 and Kuwait 🇰🇼 will be there to observe. pic.twitter.com/mxleO5FRyx
Egypt's government said the Ukraine war would add about $1 billion to the cost of subsidizing bread, and it is seeking new suppliers.https://t.co/DkPb8AKkYp
The measures are a bid to mitigate the impact of the crisis on Egyptians and include expediting routine adjustments for inflation and expanding social support programs.
Egyptian Armed Forces Chief of Staff LTG Osama Askar meets with his Qatari counterpart in Doha on the sidelines of #DIMDEX2022. pic.twitter.com/UnqoYaOwXB
Meanwhile, in #Egypt, the Egyptian pound is losing its value against US $, exchange rate reaching in some Banks to 18.27 ( from 15 days ago). Inflation and collapse of tourism due to #RussianUkrainianWar has had huge impacts on Egyptian economy. https://t.co/d1aPKN7oKf
Egypt have won the first leg of their World Cup Qualifying game against Senegal 1-0. Mohamed Salah's effort early on came off the crossbar and rebounded in off Saliou Ciss (OG). Salah's celebration was brimming with passion. pic.twitter.com/xQbVROdM6r
The entrée or the musical introduction of an Um Kalthoum song was the opportunity of the composer to compete with her voice and showcase his talent. Here is a beauty by the legendary composer Baligh Famdi. https://t.co/5x2uVgcLOk
🇪🇬🇺🇸 Washington needs a more comprehensive and cohesive strategic and military approach to Egypt that accommodates Cairo’s strategic needs, especially in a growing multipolar order. https://t.co/pIXY9gb4my
In Cairo before Ramadan each year the dry dates are named according to quality and price, this year the most expensive are Putin dates for 35 pounds a kilo and the cheapest are the Biden dates for 12,this is a reflection of perception of street opinion re strength and weakness. pic.twitter.com/N3phFhxnCv
Commander Land Forces CLF,SPA/O,Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba @mkainerugaba,met President Sisi ,they Discussed Strengthening Uganda-Egypt Military Relations. Long live Uganda 🇺🇬 pic.twitter.com/JrEaaMCgHZ
— Kamukama Fredie #FutureSecured #M7Nomination02Nov (@kamukamafredie) March 20, 2022
Egyptian military instructors provide Counter-Terrorism Training Courses for the Mauritanian SOF. pic.twitter.com/CSWH4vKt2c
In history people do meet again along the Road at the same destiny without having thought to happen. this picture was taken in 2011 Lt General MUHOOZI was attending Military academy in Egypt and Marshall AL-SISSI had not became yet a president @RugyendoQuotes . pic.twitter.com/1UICu6RB2s
Archaeologists in Egypt have unveiled five ancient Pharaonic tombs adorned with well-preserved paintings dating back more than 4,000 years. pic.twitter.com/m0lnm8vYRu
Reading that #Egypt’s @AlsisiOfficial agreed to give the son of last King Farouk, Ahmed Foad, a diplomatic passport stating that he was Egypt’s lady King. If true, then great decision. Bravo 👏👏 Egypt needs historical reconciliation. https://t.co/wFcdaX50Wx
WATCH: Abdallah Mostafa never let his disability bring his soccer dreams to a halt. Now a member of Pyramids FC's soccer team for amputees, he hopes Egypt will one day have a soccer league for amputees pic.twitter.com/R7BFseoiUT
Among other assignments, Renaud covered wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and political turmoil in Egypt and Libya.
“Nowhere was too dangerous,” said filmmaker and close friend Christof Putzel. “It was his bravery but also because he deeply, deeply cared.” https://t.co/3cwQ0SfXsO
BINGO. Well-done, @Chevron CEO, and, thanks for sharing @greekcitytimes. May also go overland from Israel to Egypt, by water to Crete/Greece. Cyprus hooked up directly from Israel or Crete. https://t.co/dVVWzXYj6b
President Al-Sisi discussed with #Putin the Ukrainian crisis, the situation of Egyptian nationals in #Ukraine as well as joint strategic cooperation and bilateral relations with #Russia. (Egypt's Presidency Readout)
On the occasion of the 112th anniversary since the inauguration of the The Coptic Museum. The museum launches , the exhibition “Escape to Egypt.” telling the story of the journey of the Holy Family in Egypt. The exhibition includes 11 artifacts from rare collections in the world pic.twitter.com/Zwzx2zfsmt
— Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (@TourismandAntiq) March 13, 2022
#AncientSiteSunday: a fantastic photo of the relocation of the temples of Abu Simbel, #Egypt. Due to the erection of the Aswan High Dam that threatened to submerge Abu Simbel, the temples were relocated to an area more than 60 metres above their previous site… 1/2 pic.twitter.com/UjPwFdoSha
Ukrainians in Egypt share dreadful moments of Russian invasion. Mohamed Saied
Nomadic Bedouins set up camp by the housing blocks of Egypt’s Nile Delta. Reuters
From Twitter
“We look forward to our partners, including #Egypt, upholding the fundamental principles of the UN Charter.” In the world of diplomacy, this is an unusually strong message – with a whiff of threat – urging #Cairo to vote for UNGA condemnation of #Russia. https://t.co/61TNPAnHl4
“I immediately called my mother. She told me how they woke up to the sounds of Russian bombs attacking nearby. At the end of our call, she asked me to forgive her and said goodbye. That was the only moment we cried.” Check out my story @AlMonitor https://t.co/aoX7DCbMdX
Loutfy is the son of Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Mansour and CEO of Man Capital, the investment arm of his family’s business Mansour Group. #Abramovich
Despite IS Sinai Killing a civilian on the outskirts of the Sheikh Zeweid area, there has been a large wave of defects, lots of field commanders and fighters have recently defected from the group.
Armenians raising a banner thanking Egypt hospitality before their departure to Soviet Armenia in 1947. Some Armenians preferred to stay in Egypt, mainly in Alexandria (source: Egyptian National Archive). pic.twitter.com/Q7ypNLmE3F
6 March 1900 | A Jewish woman, Julia Guerstein (née Nahon), was born in Cairo, Egypt. She lived in France.
She arrived at #Auschwitz on 6 February 1944 in a transport of 1,214 Jews deported from Drancy. She was among the 999 people murdered after selection in gas chambers. pic.twitter.com/pq8FaHdJDt
— Auschwitz Memorial (@AuschwitzMuseum) March 6, 2022
Controversy in Egypt over film starring ex-IDF soldier Gal Gadot. Ibrahim Ayyad
From Twitter
#Egypt's state grains buyer, the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC) issues fresh wheat international tender on Monday as #RussiaUkraineWar threatens supply GASC will look to buy 55-60k tones of wheat, according to the authority’s website.https://t.co/rDWoALE5Hp
Pleased to be here in Cairo months before Egypt will host COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh. We must all do everything in our power to give life to the many commitments of Glasgow, and Egypt can help us take these next critical steps.
— Special Presidential Envoy John Kerry (@ClimateEnvoy) February 21, 2022
DJ-400 Anti-drone Jammer, unveiled at EDEX2021 for the first time. It used to jam mini- and micro-UAVs in urban and rural environments from up to 4 kilometers away, by blocking signals related to the remote control of the drone, data transfers and GNSS. pic.twitter.com/Odumsyvxn7
#Egypt– video showing the Border Guard confiscation of attempt smuggling of weapons & ammo on board one of the #Suez Canal ferries with some new angles/weapons that aren't visible in the photos pic.twitter.com/A2zF3MfPA4
Price of wheat shipments that Egypt will receive in May jumped by 6% overnight. This year will be catastrophic for the Egyptian economy and thus Egyptians, two thirds of whom are poor. https://t.co/DdLsaeAHL3
Another effect of the Russia-Ukraine war on the Middle East: Iran, Iraq and Egypt all rely on Ukraine for sunflower oil https://t.co/6xuY5hxsqb via @AlMonitor
Egypt is about to complete the construction of Africa's longest subway line, with a length of 40 km, at a cost of $6 billion. pic.twitter.com/NGz051mM7O
2/2 while his country is reeling in poverty. The same goes for the others. They all hid their wealth in Switzerland and off shore companies. Why hide if your source of income is unquestionable?
Today, 🇺🇸 delivered 2.2M doses of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine to 🇪🇬! To date, 🇺🇸 has delivered 23.5M doses of the vaccine to 🇪🇬—more than all other countries in the Middle East and North Africa combined! We encourage all eligible Egyptians to get vaccinated. @USAIDEgyptpic.twitter.com/8WBj8VOE3W
The Grand Egyptian Museum seeks to be approved as a green building according to the Egyptian Green Pyramid evaluation system, thus becoming the first museum in Egypt to become a green building. pic.twitter.com/WQgtg3ydw5
— Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (@TourismandAntiq) February 25, 2022
Tomorrow is a special day 22-2-2022 Egypt is celebrating the solar alignment in Abu Simbel Temple. Celebrations started few hours ago and will last for tomorrow.
What a view! I saw this & had to share! The Valley of the kings وادي الملوك is a valley located in #Egypt, specifically in the hills behind Dayr al-Baḥrī. There are 62 known tombs. In 1979 UNESCO designated the valley part of the World Heritage sites. #Archaeology#travelpic.twitter.com/PVGXhNDcTr
Nervana 
Time for Arabs to stand with Ukraine
More than 50 days have passed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the attitude in the Middle East towards the war is ambiguous at best. Apart from formal statements from various governments in the region that claim “neutrality,” public reaction is still confused, misguided, and dominated by resentment towards the United States, instead of focusing on the human tragedy playing out in Ukraine as a nation.
From the beginning of the Ukraine war, Arabs have considered the conflict solely through the prism of a revival of the Cold War between Russia and the United States. Apologism and justifications for the Russian invasion have been all over social media since the beginning of the conflict, with expressions such as Russia was “dragged,” “tricked,” or “provoked.” As Merissa Khurma has written, many Arab analysts are not convinced by Western “hysteria” over the Ukraine crisis. Moreover, rather than decrying Russia’s unlawful invasion of a sovereign state, many Arabs have denounced the ‘double standard’ of sports bans on Russia. In other words, it has been the responses of Western countries that have irked Arabs, rather than Russian aggression.
Within the Arab psyche, it seems Ukraine as a nation and the will and aspirations of the Ukrainian people are not part of the narrative that is shaping their opinion towards the war. Ironically, in a region that built its entire cultural narratives on concepts of resistance, jihad, and anti-colonialism, many are resenting Ukraine for resisting Russian occupation. Such an attitude prevails not just among traditional allies of Russia in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, but also in countries like Egypt and the Gulf States.
In fact, the war in Ukraine has highlighted how the most unifying factor among Arab political factions, whether they are leftists, Nasserites, nationalists, or capitalists, is their collective resentment of the United States; often for conflicting reasons. It was interesting to see an overlap between the anti- and pro-Iran camps in the region. Both projected an understanding of Russian motives in Ukraine, and regard the war in Ukraine as an opportunity to voice their grievances towards the US. Each camp resents the US for different reasons; Iran sees the US as its archenemy, while regional opponents of Iran resent the US for not standing strong against Iran, and for its efforts to reach a nuclear deal with the Mullahs in Tehran at any price. Both camps, however, see Russia as an alternative ally that can stand against perceived American hegemony over the global order.
The same contradiction is seen in Turkey, where, as Suat Kınıklıoğlu wrote, both Nationalist-Islamism and Eurasianism overlap, as they both despise Western dominance in the international order, feel threatened by the liberal cultural-civilizational siege of the West, and thus have a common counter-hegemonic view of the world. In Egypt, Mohamed Salmawy wrote, “a third bloc is needed”, one that yearns for the 50s, and the Non-aligned Movement, led by Egypt, India, and Yugoslavia.
Arab media outlets’ coverage of the conflict, while claiming neutrality, is full of ambiguity and subtle bias towards Russia. Most, if not all, of the Arab media start the news with almost identical themes that include “Russia says,” “Russia did,” or “Russia claims,’ which has triggered positive bias towards Russia among their followers.
It is perhaps understandable to see how the conflict in Ukraine is used as an excuse to lash out against the Biden administration’s policies that have neither supported America’s traditional allies in the region, nor stood firm against US enemies such as the Mullahs’ regime in Tehran. Nonetheless, such ambiguous handling of the war in Ukraine is worrisome to say the least, and for many reasons:
First, Russia can’t balance US dominance
It is a mistake to assume that Putin’s Russia will counter what Arabs perceive as “US hegemony.” Historically, apart from its rule in the Syrian civil war, Russia has a poor record of supporting any Arab cause. It failed to help Iraq, Libya, and the Palestinian cause. The economic impacts of this war, together with the crippling US sanctions on Russia will limit its influence and ability to navigate the global order. Furthermore, its strong relations with the regime in Tehran will limit its ability to support Arab Gulf states in their quest to limit Iran’s destructive regional policies.
Second, calls for a “third bloc” are equally delusional. The fifties Non-aligned Movement (NAM) tried to transcend the Cold War, but the NAM ended up as one of the Cold War’s chief victims. The group eventually moved closer to the Soviet camp and lagged behind the Western world on all fronts, militarily, technologically, and economically. Furthermore, denying Ukraine’s right to self- determination is an insult to all the values of the NAM and the anti-colonial stance of all Arabs.
Third, fanning the flame of anti-Americanism is counter-productive. Crying about American’s double standards exposes Arabs’ own bias and inconsistencies. Arabs behave as if they are not too bothered about colonialism and imperialism when it’s being conducted by a non-Western actor, and they only unleash their anger against what they perceive as American imperialism. While they bitterly remember the US invasion of Iraq, Arabs forget how the ex-Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait and denied its legitimacy as a sovereign nation, which, in many ways, resembles how Putin handles Ukraine.
Regardless of the outcome of the war in Ukraine, the current ambiguity and soft stance towards Russian aggression will have negative long-term impacts on the Arab world. It will destroy the moral compass of young Arabs, who will grow increasingly susceptible to conspiracy theories, tolerant towards injustices as long as they are committed by non-Western actors, and cynical about the universal values of freedom and the right to self-determination.
It’s time for Arabs to remove their biased Cold War cloak and look at Ukraine as a country yearning to be liberated from its colonial master. Arabs must recognize the sovereignty of independent states, from the West and the East, and reject the bullying, aggression, and catastrophic destruction of human life that has characterized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine is not Russia, exactly as Kuwait is not part of Iraq, and Lebanon is not part of Iran. It is about time to stand for Ukraine, regardless of our grievances about American policies in the region.
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