Doaa El-Bey and Rasha Saad scrutinise the lone topic of the week: the Alexandria church bombing The attack on a Coptic church in Alexandria on New Year's Eve shocked Egyptians and the world alike. 'Egypt in shock' read Asharq Al-Awsat 's banner. 'Arab and international denunciation of the attack on the church in Alexandria' said the London-based Al-Hayat banner. 'The Alexandria massacre' wrote Al-Quds Al-Arabi. In the pan-Arab daily Asharq Al-Awsat Tariq Al-Homayed wrote 'To the Egyptians: take an honest stand' in which he said he had often warned of the religious congestion that is occurring, and growing in Egypt, stressing that the danger is not to Egyptians alone, but to the Arab world in general because the destruction of Egypt is a disaster for the region. Its interests are the region's interests as well, for Egypt has significant influence over us. Therefore, Al-Homayed advised, what is required from Egyptians today is that they do not blame their problems on external forces. Instead, they must sit down with each other and take an honest stand. "It's not enough to say that the terrorist act was simply an external plot. Egyptian terrorists are located in the following countries: Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen and even Iran. The lesson to be learned from terrorism and terrorists is that it doesn't matter whether the terrorists live outside their home country; they inevitably return to it," Al-Homayed wrote. In Al-Hayat, Elias Harfoush wrote, 'I hope it was Al-Qaeda'. Harfoush wrote that Egypt's official stance is moving towards blaming the Alexandria church bombing on Al-Qaeda, based on the idea that only a foreign party could carry out or plan such an attack. "Fine. Then let us say: I hope it was Al-Qaeda and Israel that bombed the church. If this accusation is proven, it will confirm that Egypt is domestically secure, that national unity is in good shape, and that the likelihood that a Christian would attack a mosque or a Muslim a church is slim in today's Egypt." However, Harfoush is sceptical. "Can we truly rule out any domestic involvement? Doesn't the sectarian climate, which is spreading in Egypt and other Arab countries and is sometimes given political cover by higher powers, allow unstable elements, paid killers or sectarian fanatics to exploit the situation to achieve gains?" In a climate such as this, Harfoush explained, fanaticism is not restricted to a single group. He cited the reaction by Copts which, as seen in the slogans in their demonstrations, or the attack on the convoy of the sheikh of Al-Azhar and the mufti of Egypt who came to pay their condolences over those killed in the bombing "confirm that Egypt today is a blazing fire that must be put out." "Once again, I hope that it was Al-Qaeda, or Israel, that bombed the church. However, this wish does not absolve Egyptian officials of their responsibility to safeguard domestic unity in Egypt. This unity can only be secured by seeing civil society achieve true equality for all Egyptians. A society such as this is the only protection against external intervention, whether it is Al-Qaeda and its ideas, or the enemies of Egypt who lie in wait for it. A society such as this, when it arises, has no need to fear any external plots, if they exist," Harfoush concluded. Ghassan Charbel described the attack as "an attempt to assassinate Egypt". In Al-Hayat Charbel wrote that Arabs received with fear and horror the news, seeing in it something more serious than a passing massacre, considering it to be part of the prelude of total darkness that threatens our societies and countries. "It would be no exaggeration to say that the massacre that targeted the Copt worshippers in Alexandria also targeted every Muslim in Egypt," Charbel wrote. "The crime is no less than an attempt to assassinate Egypt by assassinating its national unity and religious diversity. It would also be no exaggeration to say that any success from this assassination attempt breaks the back of the nation and rapidly pushes it to the tunnels of total darkness. Indeed, the nation will not improve if it is ailing or drowning in a sea of hatred among its constituents," Charbel added. Abdullah Iskandar in Al-Hayat wrote that it matters little who carried out the bombing and how it was carried out. The event itself is sufficient to exemplify the collapse and deterioration of Egyptian society -- and this is what matters most here. In fact, Iskandar continues, its importance and significance surpasses those of the armed clashes that took place in the 1980s and 1990s between Egyptian government forces and extremist Islamic groups. "Those clashes were between the government and the extremists who considered the government blasphemous and deserved being fought. The attacks that affected Christians back then were only byproducts of these clashes. However, the bombing that targeted the church is a specific attack against Christians because of who they are and because they are now a part of a society that no longer tolerates their existence." In its editorial Al-Quds Al-Arabi wrote that international calls demanding the protection of Copts in Egypt is totally rejected and is flagrant interference in the country's internal affairs. "The Copts are Egyptians before being Christians and they are partners in this country as are their Muslim brethren. Their protection is solely the responsibility and duty of the Egyptian regime. "The attack has ignited sectarian strife and attacked the basics of peaceful coexistence among Muslims and Copts. It did harm to Muslims more than it did Christians." The editorial explained that many sectors in Egypt experience injustices to Muslims and Copts. "It's true that there are prejudices against Copts and restrictions to build new churches but there are also thousands of members of Islamic groups inside Egyptian prisons," the editorial had.
