A ‘summer cloud’ over Egypt-Saudi ties
Crisis in relations sees lawyer arrested, embassy held; ex-security chief also makes headlines
The detention of Egyptian lawyer Ahmad Gizawi in Saudi Arabia, and his subsequent sentencing to 20 lashes and one year in prison, has sparked a wave of controversy that mixes religion, politics, and national pride.
The issue is part of the broader issue of Saudi-Egyptian ties, which is headline news in nearly every Arab daily Sunday.
Egypt’s most widely circulated paper, Al Ahram, reports that the Saudi ambassador to Egypt was recalled following “unwarranted demonstrations and protests” outside the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Giza, Cairo. The article emphasizes the importance of keeping the relationship between the two countries intact. The bond between Egypt and Saudi Arabia is referred to as “the thermometer of inter-Arab relations,” but one that for now is suffering from a “summer cloud.”
Various columnists in the Egyptian press are also choosing to highlight the importance of this connection by referring to historical precedents. An editorial in the Egyptian daily Youm7 discusses Camp David, saying that this is “the worst rift since 1979… when diplomatic ties were severed with Egypt for signing a peace agreement with Israel.” Another columnist for Al Ahram focuses on the Yemeni civil war in the 1960s, and speaks optimistically about a quick resolution.
While Egyptian papers point to Gizawi’s human rights lawsuit against Saudi Arabia as the motive behind his arrest, the Saudi Arabian press focuses its explanation elsewhere.
Reformist Saudi Arabian paper Al Watan quotes a Saudi official saying that the story suffers from “misinformation,” and was “made up from the outset.” Saudi-owned Al Arabiya claims Gizawi is being held on drug smuggling charges including “21,389 Xanex pills…hidden in cartons of baby milk.” The website also features a video of the contraband allegedly seized and claims to have a “video recording [of him] verbally acknowledging it.”
Diskin, discord, and elections
Amid the increasing pressure and likelihood of early elections in Israel, the Arab press highlights internal name-calling and public bashing between former Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Ehud Barak.
Al Arabiya quotes Diskin saying Netanyahu and Barak “are deluding the country on Iran” and further, that the prime minister and defense minister are “not competent enough.” The newspaper also includes Diskin’s warning that Israel is suffering from “racism toward Arabs and foreigners,” and that “there are dozens of citizens, not only in the occupied territory but inside the Green Line as well who, in a situation in which settlements are evacuated… would be willing to take up arms.”
Furthering the image of internal discord, another Saudi-based newspaper, Roayah News, mentions Shaul Mofaz and Avi Dichter’s entrance into this public dialogue. Mofaz was cited as coming to Diskin’s defense, saying criticism of Diskin was a tool “intended to avoid substantive criticism.” Hezbollah’s media arm, Al Manar, also quotes Diskin saying that “we are a society that has become more inclined to war,” and notes in its news feed that “Israeli officials discuss the possibility of advancing elections.”
Elaph also explains this debate in the context of calls for a new election. “Israeli officials… spoke of the possibility of moving forward with new legislative elections, while two former security officials criticize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”
Iran and Saudi Arabia: The hijab and sheesha
Al Arabiya reports that the Iranian government has “launched a new crackdown on women caught in public without a hijab.” Ahead of the May 4 parliamentary elections, this campaign which was “asked for by the people” is aimed at women who dress in “vulgar and inappropriate” fashions.
Roayah News explains that it is not limited to just women in public spaces, but to “shops that offer immodest clothing,” which includes “mannequins” as well. Warnings were reportedly sent to stores to help enforce “public morality” ahead of time. One commentator sees this as an attempt to shift attention from problems gripping Ahmedinijad’s presidency, including discord over the budget and an economic slump.
Accompanied by a large photo of a red hose wrapped around the base of a hookah, a parallel issue of women’s rights is addressed in Saudi Arabia. The British-based Al Quds online newspaper details that a woman in Saudi Arabia and her potential husband canceled their marriage contract over the question of public smoking. After the woman said “she could not refrain” from smoking a hookah in public, her suitor cited “unsuitable behavior” as the basis for calling off the wedding.