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Controlling one's emotions

<div>Emotions flare up for two reasons: either for joy or for inner pain, In a hadith, the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) Said: </div><br /><div><br />"Verily, I have been prohibited from mitting two foolish and wicked sounds, one that is emitted when something favorable happens, and the other that is expressed when calamity strikes."<br />{<em>In order that you may not be sad over matters that you fail to get, nor rejoice because of that which has been given to you</em>.}<br />(Qur'an 57:23) </div><br /><div><br />For this reason, the Prophet (bpuh) said:<br />"Verily, true patience is that which is displayed during the initial shock,"<br />Therefore, when one contains his emotions upon both the joyful and the calamitous occasion, he is likely to achieve peace and tranquility, happiness and comfort, and the taste of triumph over his own self, Allah described man as being exultant and boastful, irritable, discontented when evil touches him, and niggardly when good touches him. The exceptions, Allah informed us, are those who remain constant in prayer, For they are on a middle path in times of both joy and sorrow. They are thankful during times of ease and are patient during times of hardship.<br /><br />Unbridled emotions can greatly wear a person out, causing pain and loss of sleep. When such a person becomes angry, he flares up, threatens others, loses all self-control, and surpasses the boundaries of justice and balance, Meanwhile, if he becomes happy, he is in a state of rapture and wildness. In his intoxication of joy, he forgets himself and surpasses the bounds of modesty. When he renounces and relinquishes the company of others, he disparages them, forgetting their virtues while stamping out their good qualities, On the other hand, if he loves others, then he spares no pains in according them all forms of veneration and honor, portraying them as being the pinnacles of perfection. </div><br /><div><br />The Prophet (bpuh) said: <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579334155136891810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDZd3t8cyBHQr1paTIPm6t1oOf7DzmKysnlWtwj6xqd6V3CyBbMrUbfxAUEY3-h-bK9RTpcLUtPJTxfrr2uf0Jf7FSvYbhXL743ipD5kAsNp29tEGILiZhm7XBbBa69YniwOp_SG8vMCS/s400/Love+%2526+Hate.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">" Love the one who is beloved to you in due moderation for perhaps the day will come when you will abhor him.<br />And hate the one whom you detest in due moderation, for perhaps the day will arrive when you will come to love him."<br /><br /></span></strong>And in an other hadith, the Prophet (bpuh) said:<br />"And I ask you (O' Allah) to make me just, both while being in a state of anger and while being in a state of joy."<br /><br />So when a person curbs his emotions, when he controls his mind, and when to each matter he gives according to the weight of its importance, he will have taken a step towards wisdom and true understanding,<br /><br />{<em>Indeed We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance (Justice) that mankind may keep up justice</em>.}<br />(Qur'an 57:25) </div><br /><div><br />Indeed, Islam came as much with balance in morals manners and dealings as it did with its straightforward, holy, and truthful way of life.<br />{<em>Thus We have made you a just (and the best) nation</em>.}<br />(Qur'an 2:143) </div><br /><div><br />Being just is an end that is called for in both our manners and in matters of jurisprudence, In fact, Islam is founded on truth and justice-truthfulness in all that we learn from revealed texts, and justice in rulings, sayings, actions, and manners.<br />{<em>And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and justice</em>.}<br />(Qur'an 6:115) </div>

Controlling one's emotions

Emotions flare up for two reasons: either for joy or for inner pain, In a hadith, the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) Said: "...

7:53 PM

Hijab Ralph lauren style

<div align="left">Although there is a lot of people who still belive that Islam is something you have to be afraid of because they belive Islam is the terrorist's religion (this is what most of non-muslim belive), and not to mention that according to them in Islam there is a lack of rights for women, I repeat according to them ok, and the order for all women to be covered and wear hijab which means to them that women in Islam are not free to dress as they like (Or as they use to wear, or should I say ;not wear because they like the nearly naked women) etc,etc,etc.</div><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNysZXf01iMwyT2vzMXlUaZnw-h1EGPpoH4x-ZU191YU1hQEGHrlWPlPnt8EFTjYnvYNkXRsOO5xlISRUF7QKWwfN6wfK3dUhSwGVgq6bU6NU8zNHJVUYIQJdhTY9kNmEt9LvGWl1FJVaC/s1600/ralhp+lauren+hijab.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575190912098281170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNysZXf01iMwyT2vzMXlUaZnw-h1EGPpoH4x-ZU191YU1hQEGHrlWPlPnt8EFTjYnvYNkXRsOO5xlISRUF7QKWwfN6wfK3dUhSwGVgq6bU6NU8zNHJVUYIQJdhTY9kNmEt9LvGWl1FJVaC/s400/ralhp+lauren+hijab.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 350px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Ralph Lauren Collection fall/Winter 2011/12</span></div><div align="center">I think this looks like a Hijab, Am I wrong??<br /><br />There is no doubt that all this prejudices doesn't matter when we talk about business, why?, well because every day, every new season in the fashion industry we are seeing how more and more designers are turning their eyes to the East side, whyyyy?, this is because the emergence of new economies in the world, we can't deny that the Muslim World is growing, and growing in a huge way, the purchasing power of Eastern countries is growing therefore all this designers and business man are turning their business to Eastern customers, and you have to give what your customers need and are looking for, that's why we are seeing and we will continuing seeing full collections inspirated in the East.<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOCWMhE9ejZnxHHUk18v3GjhuCZ5Xf7YX5uhVgVg0Nf1GXEM8t1mnPxP2csuMzbpNUC6UcCFwyh4u53Z3Lmg8u3Gf_EgNEcNTc3zq5euAde4RUcyQnVX_HLJk1gaSfpXDTP9UXUaf0p49/s1600/ralhp+lauren+hijab+2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575190912898937794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOCWMhE9ejZnxHHUk18v3GjhuCZ5Xf7YX5uhVgVg0Nf1GXEM8t1mnPxP2csuMzbpNUC6UcCFwyh4u53Z3Lmg8u3Gf_EgNEcNTc3zq5euAde4RUcyQnVX_HLJk1gaSfpXDTP9UXUaf0p49/s400/ralhp+lauren+hijab+2.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Put some Long Sleeves and tadaa, an Abaya whit hijab inluided hahaha! <p align="left">but What does it means?,<br />this means that fashion will become a bit more conservative we are seeing long dresses everywhere, some of them with long sleeves, something that just few years ago was considerated Not fashionable, we are seeing "accesories" that looks just as a Hijab, this are options that all this designers are giving to muslims and non-muslim women in the world, in the future we will see non-muslim women wearing this hijabs just because this is becoming a fashion insh'allah some of them will discover that wear hijab is not as dificult as they guess and that you can be fashionable and feel respected for all man once you cover yourself.<br /></p><div align="left">This year American designer Ralph Lauren moved away from his characteristic chic sportswear in favor of the luxury of pre-revolutionary China, on the final day of New York Fashion Week's Autumn-Winter 2011 show.</div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4t428vk55j4_bfRHYh176FWAi_4rpvQOEcAbW0Fpx8MwhYh9hHxTBy-MYd-p08Tq8c3v_vdtuN0ddFJd6PJCTuwMFPHAvDbCTUT2izQ3_RY2hPgOdzzRpBx7-ij51FqLDtyw8VW-MQTpP/s1600/winter+2011.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575190908953521650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4t428vk55j4_bfRHYh176FWAi_4rpvQOEcAbW0Fpx8MwhYh9hHxTBy-MYd-p08Tq8c3v_vdtuN0ddFJd6PJCTuwMFPHAvDbCTUT2izQ3_RY2hPgOdzzRpBx7-ij51FqLDtyw8VW-MQTpP/s400/winter+2011.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 281px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> For this year the designer proposed black color with a touch of red and emerald on long dresses and long skirts.<br /><p align="left">Nearly every item presented on Thursday by his 50 models before a handpicked audience was clearly not intended for the working woman. Lauren, who recently made his first visit to China, an emerging market for his and other labels, boldly opted for luxury.</p><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX3vQlkEA5NV4rLp2H05oSCRcJ4cIed27lYv-6oIpAeFdmyDyH-p3ihuM_PwwXUMiWMIpq__n6A8A_kxDQrri2YPNOF61j1Ieo-rRAMAcLZss19RplNLtQkVvekR0UDob3LpwxwbjV-gHH/s1600/ralhp+lauren+2011.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575190906274372242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX3vQlkEA5NV4rLp2H05oSCRcJ4cIed27lYv-6oIpAeFdmyDyH-p3ihuM_PwwXUMiWMIpq__n6A8A_kxDQrri2YPNOF61j1Ieo-rRAMAcLZss19RplNLtQkVvekR0UDob3LpwxwbjV-gHH/s400/ralhp+lauren+2011.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 314px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUiE6fi_68Shz2ECxUji8bj6p7N8Ge2PAtrsd730qLS4pNF73Mal_fHP_bKFjhi6nFvqUQuNV4GbF13UKVKXMlw43UngBtn2fML23yaN8Hxzxrz4_lbmVJ9o0Zs7tOTEoHiGudovNrYXQM/s1600/ralhp+lauren+2011-2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575190905631968162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUiE6fi_68Shz2ECxUji8bj6p7N8Ge2PAtrsd730qLS4pNF73Mal_fHP_bKFjhi6nFvqUQuNV4GbF13UKVKXMlw43UngBtn2fML23yaN8Hxzxrz4_lbmVJ9o0Zs7tOTEoHiGudovNrYXQM/s400/ralhp+lauren+2011-2.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> There was nothing this time around for the women of horseback riding and golf-playing crowds. </div></div></div>

Hijab Ralph lauren style

Although there is a lot of people who still belive that Islam is something you have to be afraid of because they belive Islam is the terrori...

3:21 PM

DIY Chandelier

<div><div><div><div>Well after all this REVOLUTION in the country I think things are finally back to "Normality", so let's leave the politic to politicians and began with this beautiful tutorial with a really original wedding idea, or just for decoration of your home or favorite place, I really appreciate the time and effort that people put in all tutorials, to be honest I haven't that patient, this tutorial use candies, yep, candies, but if you want something that can last for more time then you can use some beads instead, enjoy!<br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573697649635819874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZZ4SMRTawtxKWgngZXOmDcATXdiuQUI-VjT1MtKUFREfbSBrV8Op2tyKNY7Tvfx9ng2gbGFgwzIVIb2XTi0r7_ORRIlW7r29wAKfS1SrYtdQHv_pzJLc_ZOSq1Bp-3IiTqLuPV6OxGd8/s400/Diy+Chandelier.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 280px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /> <div><br />This DIY project is another great example of taking something very ordinary and transforming it into something absolutely beautiful and unique. Can you believe those are just bits of rock candy strung on a piece of wire?<br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#9999ff;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:180%;color:#9999ff;">What You’ll Need</span></div></div><div><span style="font-size:180%;color:#9999ff;"> <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573697645040500290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWEQuf6taT0vGQ09JEADaCb5B2JqHdE9rTh1E5nJ_n9WODIbwcBpjtMOUtrxcfCHC_55XiDOf1fsXwEKuhzmhEXq1_-ACruCCFgtVlVdZsDOHTbt0QFb0IcHp8KOhlbzMs3RRupeWgpX4/s400/Diy+Chandelier+2.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" /><br /></span>Rock Candy Strings<br />Bailing wire (I used 16 gauge) ( 1.5 inches for each)<br />Seam binding or ribbon (about 10″ for each, 1/2″or so wide)<br />Wire cutters<br />Scissors<br />Hot glue gun and glue sticks<br /><br /><div><span style="font-size:180%;color:#9999ff;">Resources:<br /></span>Rock Candy can be found at stores selling bulk candy. It can also be ordered through online resources like Oh, Nuts and Candy Warehouse.<br />Seam Binding can be purchased at any fabric store. There are also a lot of vendors on Etsy selling it too.<br />Bailing wire is available at any hardware store.<br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573697639876330850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKxqw6LomuCm-9PKflbrMDzKgtMa48CfZqlyWtx_RNM5c5Q55oqYs87ay_oNoImLXR3G6djUmUdLK0D53faFDbPOOpZUtrDmbhhwqMg3F9LeDHvE7mQ52as6xsVHZcZ7tDkTyaMDVyZRb/s400/Diy+Chandelier+3.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#9999ff;">Directions:<br /></span><br />1. Begin by using your wire cutters to cut 1.5 inch lengths of wire. You’ll need one per crystal. (see figure 1)<br /><br />2. Bend your wire into a “Shepard’s hook” shape. I bent mine over a pencil to make a nice curve. (see figure 1)<br />3. At the very end of one of you rock candy strings, put a generous glob of hot glue. Stick the end of the hook into the glue, and hold until it has cooled. If it wiggles a bit, add another dab to secure it. (see figure 2)<br />4. Cut a length of ribbon, about 10 inches long and tie a knot, then a bow around the wire at the top of the crystal. Trim your ribbon tails.<br />5. Hang your completed crystals anywhere that needs a little sparkle; on bare branches in a vase, from a tree, in a floral arrangement, from garland or an arch. If you’re feeling extra crafty, construct an armature and hang the crystals from it like a chandelier. (see pic below)<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:180%;">A Tip:<br /></span>If you have a lot of short candy strings, you can join them together using hot glue to make longer strands<br />Project created by Laurie Cinotto </div></div></div>

DIY Chandelier

Well after all this REVOLUTION in the country I think things are finally back to "Normality", so let's leave the politic to po...

1:57 PM

02-11-2011 ya habibti ya masr! -- Egypt ( Om el Donia )

<div align="left">probably this is the song that all Egyptians know, even my kids that aren't well fluent in Arabic (because of the mix of English, Spanish and Arabic) know this words "Ya habibti ya masr!!</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">I can tell you that, after 5 1/2 years in Egypt I'm still a foreigner in the country of my husband and children, but today, today I wished be an Egyptian. The feeling of joy is indescribable.<br /><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff0000;"></span></strong></div><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff0000;">02-11-2011</span></strong></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">-The End of nearly 30 years of Mubarak regimen </div><div align="left">-The day on which the Egyptian people change the history of their own country<br />-The day on which nations around the world celebrated along with the Egyptian people </div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><p align="center">Mabruk ya Masrin!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxntf8dPb_yP9raU9jgtXZMgjEDa-Mh-1a0tHC8Ch40S72roKs6jvWed4qNGxWq1SvaUdnlHyygaAM0Ir_b6emE8xHas5QwT7WyZguU4pEWZCc2AULwnSEM6ECByKRH-7mmADg9O2a1FP/s1600/peaceful.jpg"></p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572580406972958050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxntf8dPb_yP9raU9jgtXZMgjEDa-Mh-1a0tHC8Ch40S72roKs6jvWed4qNGxWq1SvaUdnlHyygaAM0Ir_b6emE8xHas5QwT7WyZguU4pEWZCc2AULwnSEM6ECByKRH-7mmADg9O2a1FP/s400/peaceful.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 337px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /> <p align="center"></a>"peaceful" in Arabic<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Allahu Akbar!!</span></strong></p>

02-11-2011 ya habibti ya masr! -- Egypt ( Om el Donia )

probably this is the song that all Egyptians know, even my kids that aren't well fluent in Arabic (because of the mix of English, Spanis...

3:24 PM

Egypt- before the 2nd Goma'a-Rabena yostor!

<div align="center"><br />Rabena Yostor!<br /><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569659138696721426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfLGpprj1c8Varz-UhD2sbx8NQouBRoXKNtFZEZj-ssLWYYEkK44ZjE5n_LKmP9aD5ZaLjdpFCnwZgvTq7huFubo21qzsoP_fumUKVWhFP7hOqwKH9qOU5jjQIe1YnxeQYqbljp57xDLW/s400/egypt-1.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 269px; CURSOR: hand" /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">A protester draped in an Egyptian flag climbs atop an army tank to shake hands with a soldier </span></p><span style="font-size:78%;"><p align="left"></span>Tomorrow (Well actually now is friday in Egypt) will be the second goma'a (Friday) since the bigest demonstration in cairo happened,and we don't know what will hapen next ,Rabena yostor.<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569653218047676722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj12_5bEi5EHrpI2dhOpVPY7Opmp-2-M5JTyO0fmlRp9HAHQJrwRMBqrEJmPO0QKqsrE1f_WEdJTJxPTwJRDh1Oxk5e5ClbNHecqM_n8mPcKhNYoF4UYEOCaDTpPJfwJslRgFd5NOsGulpt/s400/tear+gas+in+cairo.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 335px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 425px; CURSOR: hand" /> <span style="font-size:78%;">Smog comming from a building next to the National Museum of Cairo<br /></span>As you know I'm not good relating things but since some time ago I'm reading a beautifull blog that nothing has to do with eather fashion nor politic, this blog is called <a href="http://foodjihad.com/">"Food Jihad"</a> although I don't know the name of the writer she has really good posts about egyptian food, I found her blog like I said some time ago and her post about how she decided to fasting on ramadan (<a href="http://foodjihad.com/2010/08/12/my-first-fast-%d8%b5%d8%a7%d8%a6%d9%85%d8%a9-%d9%84%d8%a3%d9%88%d9%84-%d9%85%d8%b1%d8%a9/">My First Fast – صائمة لأول مرة</a>) while not beeing a muslim woman caught my atention and since then I'm one more of her fans, this time she has a really amazing post about the events that have happened in Egypt since las friday (28th January), is really interesting read about how an american living in one of the developed zones in egypt sees the events,not to mention her great pictures, I have many things in common with her; when she explains the feeling about the love of Cairo and the country even when you are not Egyptian is something that only people who has came and stayed for some time here can understand, is not about the preaty of the country is about the people, and for that I am so proud of the Egyptians too.<br /><br />If you want to read more visit her blog "<a href="http://foodjihad.com/">Food jihad</a>"<br /><br />This are the link of the post about what happened during January 29 and 30, she hasn't post again I just hope and pray everithing is fine and the lack of post is due the cut of internet, yarab!<br />january 29th<br /><a href="http://foodjihad.com/2011/01/30/glimpses-into-the-light-%d9%81%d9%8a-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%8a%d9%88%d9%85-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ab%d8%a7%d9%86%d9%8a-%d9%85%d9%86-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ab%d9%88%d8%b1%d8%a9/">And Still They Rise – بداية الثورة<br /></a><br />January 30th<br /><a href="http://foodjihad.com/2011/01/30/glimpses-into-the-light-%d9%81%d9%8a-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%8a%d9%88%d9%85-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ab%d8%a7%d9%86%d9%8a-%d9%85%d9%86-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ab%d9%88%d8%b1%d8%a9/">Glimpses into the Light – في اليوم الخامس من الثورة </a></p>

Egypt- before the 2nd Goma'a-Rabena yostor!

Rabena Yostor! A protester draped in an Egyptian flag climbs atop an army tank to shake hands with a soldier Tomorrow (Well actually now is ...

5:58 PM

Israel watches Egypt uprising with fear; Netanyahu says ties with Egypt must be preserved

<a href="http://www.thedailynewsegypt.com/region/israel-watches-egypt-uprising-with-fear-netanyahu-says-ties-with-egypt-must-be-preserved.html">Israel watches Egypt uprising with fear; Netanyahu says ties with Egypt must be preserved</a><br />By Matti Friedman /AP January 31, 2011, 7:48 pm<br /><br /><br /><br />JERUSALEM: Israel’s prime minister said Sunday that his government is “anxiously monitoring” the political unrest in Egypt, his first comment on the crisis threatening a regime that has been one of Israel’s key allies for more than 30 years.<br /><br />Israeli officials have remained largely silent about the situation in Egypt, but have made clear that preserving the historic 1979 peace agreement is a paramount interest. The peace, cool but stable, turned Israel’s most potent regional enemy into a crucial partner, provided security on one of its borders and allowed it to significantly reduce the size of its army and defense budget.<br /><br />“We are anxiously monitoring what is happening in Egypt and in our region,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said before his Cabinet’s weekly meeting.<br /><br />“Israel and Egypt have been at peace for more than three decades and our objective is to ensure that these ties be preserved. At this time, we must display responsibility, restraint and utmost prudence.”<br /><br />It was the first high-level comment from Israel on the Egypt protests, which began last week with disorganized crowds demanding the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak and have grown into the most significant challenge to Egypt’s autocratic regime in recent memory.<br /><br />Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak discussed the situation in Egypt with US Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Sunday, according to a statement from Barak’s office. No details of the discussion were released.<br /><br />Over the weekend, Israel evacuated the families of its diplomats from Cairo and security officials began holding urgent consultations.<br /><br />Israeli officials, ordered to speak on condition of anonymity, expressed grave concerns about Mubarak’s tenuous grip on power. Some said they feared the violence could spread to neighboring Jordan, the only other Arab country with a peace deal with Israel, or to the Palestinian territories.<br /><br />Israel’s primary concern is that the uprising could be commandeered by Egypt’s strongest opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, and its allies, who would presumably move Egypt away from its alignment with the West and possibly cancel the peace agreement with Israel.<br /><br />“Israel has an interest in Egypt being democratic, but through a process that promises sustainability,” said Dan Shueftan, director of the National Security Studies Center at Haifa University. “If you have a process that starts with a desire for democracy but then sees radicals take over, then the result at the end of the process is worse than what you had at the beginning.”<br /><br />The benefits to Israel of peace with Egypt have been significant.<br /><br />In the three decades before the peace agreement, Israel and Egypt fought four major wars. Israel now spends 9 percent of its gross domestic product on defense, Shueftan said — compared with 23 percent in the 1970s, when a state of war with Egypt still existed.<br /><br />Where Israel once deployed thousands of soldiers along the Egyptian frontier, today there are several hundred. This reduction allowed the Israeli economy to begin flowering in the years after the peace deal, he said.<br /><br />Mubarak has also served as a mediator between Israel and the Palestinians.<br /><br />If Egypt resumes its conflict with Israel, Israelis fear, it will put a powerful Western-armed military on the side of Israel’s enemies while also weakening pro-Western states like Jordan and Saudi Arabia.<br /><br />Eli Shaked, a former Israeli ambassador to Cairo, offered an assessment Sunday in the daily Yediot Ahronot.<br /><br />“The assumption at present is that Mubarak’s regime is living on borrowed time, and that a transition government will be formed for the next number of months until new general elections are held,” he wrote.<br /><br />“If those elections are held in a way that the Americans want, the most likely result will be that the Muslim Brotherhood will win a majority and will be the dominant force in the next government. That is why it is only a question of a brief period of time before Israel’s peace with Egypt pays the price,” wrote Shaked.<br /><br />Some in Israel have critically compared President Barack Obama’s response to the crisis to that of President Jimmy Carter to the Iranian revolution in 1979. Obama has called on Mubarak to show restraint and pass unspecified reforms in Egypt.<br /><br />“Jimmy Carter will go down in American history as ‘the president who lost Iran,’ which during his term went from being a major strategic ally of the United States to being the revolutionary Islamic republic,” wrote the analyst Aluf Benn in the daily Haaretz.<br /><br />“Barack Obama will be remembered as the president who ‘lost’ Turkey, Lebanon and Egypt, and during whose tenure America’s alliances in the Middle East crumbled.”<br /><br />In the short term, Israel will face increased smuggling activities in the Sinai peninsula, where the authority of the Cairo government — never strong — has been further weakened by the unrest, said Yaakov Amidror, a former Israeli general.<br /><br />Weapons, fuel and other goods enter the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, which is subject to a partial Israeli and Egyptian blockade, through tunnels from the Sinai desert.<br /><br />“They will now try to get in everything they couldn’t get in before,” Amidror said.<br /><br />Israel captured Sinai in 1967 and then ceded it to Egypt in the 1979 peace deal. The area was demilitarized as part of the agreement.<br /><br />For now, the unrest seems to have had the opposite effect. Gaza smugglers said the supply routes have been disrupted and that they have not received any merchandise from Egypt since Friday, apparently because of difficulties in transporting the goods across Egypt to the Gaza border. –Additional reporting by Ibrahim Barzak in Rafah, Gaza Strip, and Amy Teibel in Jerusalem.

Israel watches Egypt uprising with fear; Netanyahu says ties with Egypt must be preserved

Israel watches Egypt uprising with fear; Netanyahu says ties with Egypt must be preserved By Matti Friedman /AP January 31, 2011, 7:48 pm JE...

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