The US provides the Egyptian armed forces with $1.3bn a year, a fifth of Egypt’s military budget. For the US, the maintenance of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel is paramount. General Sisi, the head of SCAF, has operated closely with the commanders of the Israeli Defence Force for years. Hamas, which governs in Gaza, has its origins in the Muslim Brotherhood. The Egyptian military accuses Hamas of aiding attacks on the Egyptian police and army in Sinai. Since 3 July, 90% of the tunnels between Egypt and Gaza have been closed by the Egyptian military. Businesses in Gaza have consequently shut. The Egyptian army has been bulldozing and blowing up houses on its side of the border near Rafah, to create a buffer zone between Egypt and Gaza. In September, two Egyptian tanks entered Gaza and Egyptian naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen in the sea off Rafah. The SCAF will attempt to build opposition to Hamas in Gaza. The escalating repression meted out by the military in Egypt is a response to the turbulence and mobilisation of the Egyptian masses. The Egyptian military leadership is part of Egypt’s capitalist class and cannot solve the worsening social conditions of Egypt’s 83 million people. According to the Egyptian Centre for Social Rights there were 2,400 social and economic protests in the first quarter of 2013 and at least half of these involved workers. Mass mobilisations have ousted two presidents since the start of 2011. The Egyptian people are waking up to their own strength and they will return to deal with the SCAF. revolutionarycommunist.org/index.php/international/3189-er-20102013
Posted on: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 13:26:16 +0000
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