Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah leader of HizbullahOn 8 December 2008 hundreds of Iranian students gathered in the square in front of the Egyptian Embassy in Tehran to protest Egypt’s refusal to lift its blockade on the Gaza Strip. These demonstrators accused Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak of collaborating with the “Zionist regime” and of betraying the world of Islam. They carried a poster of Mubarak with blood splattered on his forehead accompanied by the caption: “Hang this guy!” They also burned an Israeli flag on the ground as they chanted “Death to Israel,” “Death to America” and “Death to Mubarak.”
Leading Iranian-government newspapers have also called for the people of Egypt to rise up against their current government and follow the example of Khaled Islambouli—the man who assassinated President Sadat. Editor Hossein Shariatmadari, who is close to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, said, “The absence of the martyr Khaled Islambouli, God bless his soul, is sorely felt. Many more should follow his example and if the Egyptian people were to rise up against their regime no one would dare oppose them.
In response to this violent rhetoric, Mubarak recalled Egypt’s diplomatic envoy from Tehran and gave a speech accusing the Iranians of trying to devour the Arab world.
Yet, the Iranian protest was most likely coordinated in conjunction with the radical Egyptian opposition movement known as the Muslim Brotherhood. Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood have been holding talks in order to organize protests against the Gaza blockade outside Egyptian embassies across the Middle East and Europe. Both Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood favor the establishment of an Islamic theocracy in Egypt similar to the one ruling Iran.
Although the Muslim Brotherhood is outlawed by Mubarak’s government, it has managed to become extremely popular among the Egyptian people. Mubarak has used emergency powers and military crackdowns to keep the movement in check up to this point. If President Mubarak passes from the scene, however, the Muslim Brotherhood could become the dominant political force in Egypt. That is why Iranian threats against Mubarak’s life are so significant.
Leading Iranian-government newspapers have also called for the people of Egypt to rise up against their current government and follow the example of Khaled Islambouli—the man who assassinated President Sadat. Editor Hossein Shariatmadari, who is close to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, said, “The absence of the martyr Khaled Islambouli, God bless his soul, is sorely felt. Many more should follow his example and if the Egyptian people were to rise up against their regime no one would dare oppose them.
In response to this violent rhetoric, Mubarak recalled Egypt’s diplomatic envoy from Tehran and gave a speech accusing the Iranians of trying to devour the Arab world.
Yet, the Iranian protest was most likely coordinated in conjunction with the radical Egyptian opposition movement known as the Muslim Brotherhood. Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood have been holding talks in order to organize protests against the Gaza blockade outside Egyptian embassies across the Middle East and Europe. Both Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood favor the establishment of an Islamic theocracy in Egypt similar to the one ruling Iran.
Although the Muslim Brotherhood is outlawed by Mubarak’s government, it has managed to become extremely popular among the Egyptian people. Mubarak has used emergency powers and military crackdowns to keep the movement in check up to this point. If President Mubarak passes from the scene, however, the Muslim Brotherhood could become the dominant political force in Egypt. That is why Iranian threats against Mubarak’s life are so significant.
Egypt's concern with Iran's growing regional influence is not new. For years now, Israeli delegations have been pressed by officials from the Egyptian Intelligence Ministry and the President's Office about the Iranian nuclear threat and what Israel intends to do about it. Egypt, a regional superpower, is a Sunni state. If the Shi'ites in Iran go nuclear, Egypt and other Sunni states have reason to be concerned. Furthermore, if the Shi’ites in Iran get the bomb it is likely some of the Sunni states will get the bomb. Oil revenues give some of the Sunni states plenty of money with which to purchase the bomb from A.Q. Khan, a rogue nuclear nation or black market sources.
Recently Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah publicly admitted that Hizbullah has been operating a terrorist network in Egypt. Hizbullah assists in smuggling weaponry into the Gaza Strip, aids in attacks at vacation spots frequented by Israelis, helps to undermine Mubarak’s regime and helps in planning the assassination plots including against President Hosni Mubarak. Officially, the Israelis keep quiet about Hizbullah in Egypt but President Shimon Peres's said that it is good that others are fighting and not Israel. Otherwise, no one is speaking publicly about what is happening in Egypt. Off the record, though, Israeli officials are happy with the news coming out of Cairo.
It is an important demonstration to the world that the threat posed by a nuclear Iran and its proxy Hizbullah is not just to Israel but also to the entire Middle East and specifically the most populous Arab country Sunni Egypt. Jerusalem and Cairo have over the years developed close ties on issues of mutual concern. Omar Suleiman, the Egyptian intelligence chief, speaks often with Defense Minister Ehud Barak as well as with Maj.-Gen. Amos Gilad, head of the Defense Ministry's Diplomatic-Security Bureau. Egyptian intelligence agencies are focused on internal matters and have impressive capabilities that are generally utilized overseas. Israel as well as other Western countries could help Egypt fill that void.
What worries Israelis most are Hizbullah’s attacks on Mubarak’s regime and the undermining of President Hosni Mubarak. It is noteworthy that Egypt is playing a helpful role in opposing Hamas and offering to do more to stop arms smuggling into Gaza. The Egyptians are not doing this for Israel's sake but to make sure Hamas doesn't threaten Mubarak's regime. Interestingly, Ezekiel does not mention Egypt being part of the Russian-Iranian alliance in the last days, and currently Egypt's actions are consistent with the prophecy.
Former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat started working against the tide of radical Islam back in the early 1980s and was assassinated by an Iranian-backed terrorist because of it. Now, almost 30 years after the fact, Iran is again growing discontent with another Egyptian president who appears to be working against its plans for a radical Islamic caliphate.
If Mubarak is assassinated or his government falls, Israel could find itself facing an Egyptian military consisting US-made Abrams Tanks, Apache Helicopters, F-16 fighter jets and Harpoon Missiles in the hands of the radical Muslim Brotherhood, the official founding father of Hamas, or some other type of radical regime.
Daniel 11:40-45 implies that there will soon be a far-reaching change in Egyptian politics.
40 "At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood. 41He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. 42 He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. 43 He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Nubians in submission. 44 But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. 45 He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.
Daniel 11:40-45 implies that there will soon be a far-reaching change in Egyptian politics.
40 "At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood. 41He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. 42 He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. 43 He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Nubians in submission. 44 But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. 45 He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.
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