Israeli political analyst Shaul Monshaet described Egyptian protestors in the January 25 Revolution as a “mob” and described the trial of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak as “a tragic scene.” "Mubarak inside the dock and on the hospital gurney indicates that protestors in Tahrir Square are the real rulers of Egypt and the Egyptian ruling military council is looking for revenge,” Monshaet said. “Mubarak led the air force during the 1973 October War; he healed the wounds Egyptian dignity suffered after the 1967 war; he used peace as a strategic choice and, therefore, saved many Egyptian souls,” he continued. “Mubarak's wise foreign policy attracted foreign aid – the U.S. has provided U.S. $62 billion since 1979 and the EU also provided significant aid to Egypt,” he said. “Mubarak also fought the Salafis and al-Qaeda terrorists in the 1990s, setting set great example for countries suffering from terrorism." Monashaet also praised Mubarak, along with 27 other countries, for their participation in Operation Desert Storm, the war liberating Kuwait from Saddam Hussein and his forces. “Mubarak also repaired relationships with Arab countries after many severed ties with Egypt after the 1979 Camp David peace agreement with Israel,” he said. Monshaet urged those demanding a Mubarak execution to keep his achievements in mind prior to voicing criticism. "Mubarak is not like Saddam Hussein, who filled mass graves, or Bashar al-Assad, who killed Syrian people, or Muammar Gadhafi, who slaughtered his people and he is not Omar Bashir, the killer in Darfur,” he said. “Mubarak is the Arabian Mahatma Gandhi,” Monshaet said while criticizing Arab thinkers and intellectuals. “Mubarak made some mistakes,” Monshaet conceded, but “his achievements will outweigh his mistakes.” "I am not Mubarak's defender – he made many mistakes like neglecting to address growing illiteracy, health care, industrial, agricultural and standard of living crises in Egypt,” he added. "It's tragic that an Egyptian with a college degree does not earn more than U.S. $100 monthly," he said. Mubarak erred considerably by retaining power in Egypt for 30 years, Monshaet claims. "Mubarak also made the mistake of intentionally planning to hand Egypt to his son, Gamal,” he said. “He similarly made the mistake of refusing a Saudi asylum offer and insisting to stay in Egypt.” The Arab Spring is not about the trial of Mubarak, he added, but rather about the development of Egypt.
