CAIRO - Mass demonstrations outside the Israeli Embassy in Giza and calls for the dismissal of the Israeli Ambassador could send the wrong message to the international community, of which Egypt is an influential member. Post-revolution Egypt could also be condemned globally for warmongering. Calls for the dismissal of the Israeli Ambassador and the renewal of hostilities with Israelis are against Egypt's deep-rooted ethics and principles. It is strange that the young demonstrators, ignoring the nation's military top brass and its diplomatic channels, should have decided to take the law into their hands, demanding the revocation of the Camp David Egyptian-Israeli peace accord (signed in 1979, long before many of these young demonstrators were born). The young demonstrators are beating the drums of war against the Jewish State. Perhaps their unshakeable confidence in their Army, its history and its past achievements have made them so determined. Twenty-four-year-old Ahmed el-Shahat, who ascended 17 floors to bring down the lsraeli flag and unfurl the Egyptian one in its place, is a national hero. He acted spontaneously to express his anger at the killing of four Egyptian soldiers and an officer during the Israeli attack in Sinai. His bravery epitomises the determination of the entire Egyptian nation, which is endeavouring to improve the country after a revolution which toppled Hosni Mubarak after 30 years in power. The Israeli attack has provoked suspicions among the Egyptians about our peace partner's attitude towards the deposed ruler. Israeli leaders, past and present, have unanimously praised Mubarak as the Jewish State's best-ever friend. The mass demonstrations outside the Israeli Embassy and calls for renewing hostilities with Israel haven't been carefully considered. The young demonstrators have reacted powerfully to the Israeli attack on our soldiers in Israel. Their uncontrolled enthusiasm and national fervour must have led the young demonstrators to underestimate their nation's global reputation for being an influential peacemaker, regionally and internationally. Being an active member state of the United Nations, Egypt has contributed to peacemaking missions in hot spots like Kosovo and certain African countries. Moreover, Egypt was the first Arab country to send troops to Kuwait to liberate it after the Iraqi invasion in the 1990s. In acknowledgement of its peace-loving reputation, several international peace conferences on the Middle East crisis have been held in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, known as the City of Peace. Egypt and any other important country with great peacemaking potential would be letting itself down if it decided to attack a foreign country. Since the outbreak of the hostilities with the Jewish state some 60 years ago, Egypt has never been the party that fires the first bullet. Since signing the peace agreement in 1979, Egypt and Israel have been committed to their peace obligations. Their joint commitments in this regard should encourage reluctant Arab countries and the Palestinians to follow their example and sit down at the negotiating table to discuss the best way to end the Arab-Israeli conflict. Rumours in post-Mubarak Egypt and in Gaza about a new war between Egypt and Israel are ridiculous and childish. Israel's hawks, wiser than its doves, understand that the peace accord with Egypt helps the Jewish State win the sympathy and the support of the international community because of its efforts to achieve peace with Arabs and the Palestinians. Taking into consideration the developments in Sinai in the wake of the removal of Mubarak, Israel should appreciate new peace obligations and show that its trust in its peace partner (Egypt) is unbreakable. Therefore, Israel should be willing to take the initiative and agree to Cairo's demand to amend the Camp David peace accord to prepare the ground for Egypt to reinforce its security. Israel and Egypt should indicate to the international community that, being peace partners, they agree about the best way to protect their peace and export it beyond their joint borders.
