After the near-disastrous attack on the Israeli embassy in Egypt, organizers in Jordan are planning a "million-man march" to descend upon the Israeli embassy in Amman. The protestors' stated objectives are to emulate the Egyptians in breaking into the Israeli embassy and tear down the Israeli flag.
Although the protest leaders didn't specify explicit intent to harm Israeli diplomats stationed there, the previous incident in Egypt doesn't provide much optimism for peaceful protests or an absence of violence.
Unlike in Egypt, Jordan has already begun to implement significant security arrangements to ensure that a repeat of the Egypt debacle doesn't materialize in their own country. According to international law, a government must provide embassies with adequate security measures to ensure the safety and protection of foreign nationals residing in the host country in question.
Let's hope the Jordanians succeed where the Egyptians failed.
The full story can be found here.
Regarding the link to "Egypt Uprising Has Failed" in YNet. I just didn't feel like posting this there.
ReplyDeleteI came home this evening hoping that one of you had written something about what happened. I don't even know how to name it so I'm calling it "what happened". Should I call it anarchy? Or is that giving it too much credit? Hm. I think it's just hate. I'm just relieved it didn't turn into murder although that could have happened pretty easily. The supposed head of the government, Tantawi, wasn't reachable. Can you ever imagine a time when Obama, Netanyahu, Sarkozy, Cameron can't be reached? I think they are pretty much on call 24/7. Wouldn't you agree? No, this was see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil and then when the poor Israelis get lynched, "It's not my fault."
I followed the situation the whole weekend through the Israeli media. Sure couldn't find much over here but with the 9/11 anniversary I guess that was to be expected. I just sat reading. I found myself shifting between tears in my eyes and just shaking my head. And this is one of Israel's peace partners. I thought about the several instances on FaS when volunteers responded to Egyptians writing in and no matter what was said by the writer, the volunteer always wrote, "We wish you well in your pursuit of freedom." I never read any volunteer write, "I hope your next tyrant is worse than your last one." I'm finding myself asking myself, "what builds character in people?" Nations are the reflection of their people's character. What happened this past weekend isn't just about a lack of experience with democracy. That's too easy of a justification. Up until Friday evening that is what I likely would have proposed and perhaps that's some small part of it. But no, I think it is something different. I think is about character...or the lack thereof.
I'm sorry if I sound so angry and cynical.