April 2011 - Centre for Civil Society - University of KwaZulu-Natal

avert the strike. It shows that Israel, like all other countries has its class
divisions, something the Zionist ruling class would like to hide from view.
Dear Editor,
During the Tahrir Revolution, one dissenting voice was that of Israel's, in
the sense that it's government did not come out against Mubarak. Israel
likes to boast that it is the only democracy in this region, and if truth be
told it would like it to stay that way. For Israel's government, dealing with
totalitarian regimes is much easier than dealing with democracies.
During the upheaval in Egypt (not that I'm saying it has finished) all Israelis
that were interviewed would always mention the Muslim Brotherhood.
Even when it was pointed out to them that they had not started the
revolution, and were not very prominent in the goings on in the Square,
the retort was "look at Iran". The difference with Iran was the revolution
there had a "leader", as you well know.
Today in Haaretz the question was asked "Why no revolution in Israel?".
Well the Histadrut had announced a General Strike to take place next
month before what happened in Cairo. Netanyahu, after seeing what was
going on in Egypt quickly stepped in to thwart the planned strike with an
increase of the minimum wage by 450 Shekels a month. The minimum
wage is at present 3,800 Shekels Us$1000 or approximately £600 (pounds
sterling). This increase, if approved by the cabinet, will be for public
sector workers only. The private sector has virtually no rights left any
more. Also decreases in the price of petrol and water rates were
announced, but not diesel. The latter is very significant, because this
affects the price of food. Food has always been relatively cheap here. But
lately the prices have soared. The price of water has also increased simply
because Israel has been in a drought situation for some years, and this has
also contributed to the price of food going up, and the quality. The
changes proposed by the Prime Minister still have to be approved by the
cabinet, as the Israeli governments are always true coalitions - not the
elephant and mouse type you have in the UK at present - a lot of wrangling
will take place before these changes will pass if indeed they will.
During the demonstrations in Egypt the Histadrut tried to arrange several
demonstrations in various towns across Israel, but hardly anyone turned
up.
Regarding the Egypt situation vis-a-vis Israel, well we have a period of
grace of a some few months. No doubt Israeli officials will be in contact
with the present rulers in Egypt, and as they are military men, as are most
of Israel's top politicians, they will find a common language. Time will tell
of course what will be the outcome, and if the generals in Egypt will hold
elections, or maybe they will get used to being in power, and keep putting
off elections. This of course is what Israel would like especialy as some in
the Egyptian opposition have voiced intentions to renegotiate the Israel-
Egypt Camp David peace accords. I'm also pretty sure that Jerusalem will
make it very clear to both Cairo and Washington that it will not tolerate
any government that may arise in Egypt that will in Israel's estimation pose
any threat to Israel. I'm not talking about war between the two countries,
but help to Hamas or any other organization that Israel would term
terrorist would be considered unacceptable. Although Egypt has been
rearmed by the US with weapons of either the same type or quality that
Israel has, it is still no match for Israel, and I'm sure after 30 years of no
war neither side wants to return to a "War Situation", as the Americans
would put it.
I found your article on the Egyptian military very informative, especially