THE statement recently made by the Saudi Ambassador to Cairo Ahmed el-Qattan noted that the Kingdom is considering cancelling the sponsorship system especially for the Egyptian labourers. This is quite apart from the recent crisis that emerged between the two countries because of the arrest of the Egyptian lawyer and activist Ahmed el-Gizawi at Jeddah Airport last month. The Saudi authorities said that the arrest of the Egyptian activist was prompted by the seizure of some illegal medication in his luggage, and not for his bringing a lawsuit against the Saudi authorities for imprisoning some Egyptian citizens without charges or trial. Angry demonstration erupted in front of the Saudi Embassy in Cairo calling for the immediate release of el-Gizawi and accusing the Saudi kingdom of violating human rights. These events caused King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia to recall his Ambassador for consultation, the move that expressed a veiled threat of cutting diplomatic ties with Egypt. The ruling military council, the Egyptian government as well as parliament, whose speaker led a delegation to the Kingdom, then apologised and affirmed the strong fraternal relation between the two countries. It is true that Saudi Arabia returned its Ambassador to Cairo and even announced the fast release of some one billion dollars' worth of aid it had previously promised to Egypt in a move expressing good ties between the two countries. Nevertheless, the Saudi officials must have realised the Egyptian public's change of mood and non-acceptance of the humiliation and injustice some Egyptian citizens are suffering in Saudi Arabia or in any other country. In other word, the Saudi authorities intended to change its strategy with post-revolution Egypt to consider the people rather than the ruler. This could be why the Saudi Minister of Labour Adel Faqih announced that a study would be made of amending the sponsorship system, especially in dealing with the Egyptian workers. nnumerable calls have been made for annulling this slavery-like sponsor system because of its violation of human rights and the many injustices some Saudi citizens and employers are perpetrating against the Egyptian expatriates under it. These have reached the extent of depriving Egyptians of visiting or returning to Egypt if they have any problems with their sponsor. The recent Egyptian-Saudi crisis erupted because of Al-Gizawi case, which has not yet been settled yet. However, it directed the attention of Saudi Arabia and, of course, many other countries to the importance of reconsidering their strategies with Egypt and giving priority to the Egyptian public opinion rather than the personal relation with its president, who will come to office via free democratic elections.
