He called up an Israeli lawmaker just before he resigned to speak his mind a little. To put it simply, Mubarak feels, much like many Israeli officials, that a move towards democracy in Egypt will give rise to extremism. “He gave me a lesson in democracy and said: ‘We see the democracy the United States spearheaded in Iran and with Hamas, in Gaza, and that’s the fate of the Middle East,'” said Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, a former Israeli cabinet minister. “‘They may be talking about democracy but they don’t know what they’re talking about and the result will be extremism and radical Islam.'” In other words, Mubarak is all grumblecakey about the rise of democracy in the country, which he feels will hurt the region more than help it. And yes, we said “grumblecakey.” source
A number of people reportedly took part in the protests against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, but unfortunately for them, thousands of riot police were out in full force.
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They did not know anything about this and actually when I took the time off and I went to Cairo, they did not know I was going to the protest. But when everything became public, I talked with the company and they suggested that I take a leave of absence and I also suggested that to them and I think it was a good decision for that. Google has nothing to do with this.
Wael Ghonim • Talking about the now-unbreakable tie between his activism and his employment with Google. This is not the kind of thing that people like to see in the workforce – employees tied to public companies taking an active role in the political process, and as a result, tying the company’s name to the issue. “It’s one of those things that companies don’t want to touch with a ten foot pole,” one public-relations executive in the tech industry said about the matter. As far as Ghonim’s situation goes, he took a leave a leave of absence with the company and is happy to return at some point. Well, that is “if I’m not fired.” source
If Ahmadinejad has a nervous look on his face, it’s because the Egyptian protests may give Iranian activists new life on Monday. Especially after Wael Ghonim gave the Green Revolution a big up.
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The Muslim Brotherhood has already said they won’t be committed to the peace treaty. I don’t see a military conflict with Israel. But the whole regional order of the last 30 years will be totally shattered.
Former Israel ambassador to Egypt Eli Shaked • Expressing his, and by extension his country’s fears over losing a major ally in the revolution that ousted Hosni Mubarak. Unlike the United States, Israel never turned away from their longtime ally in fear of what would come for Egypt after. Their biggest fear? While they don’t expect another war in the region, they fear the possibility that the Muslim Brotherhood, a group they feel would be against Israel, would gain a foothold in Egyptian politics. There’s a point where diplomatic concerns becomes a poor reason to diplomatically block a country’s freedoms, and most countries feel we passed it. Israel apparently didn’t. source
This is the greatest day of my life. The country has been liberated.
Egyptian opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei • In his immediate reaction to the news that Hosni Mubarak has left power in Egypt. It’s too soon to tell what happens next, but the excitement is strong in Tahrir Square. source
So, what happens when you claim to still be the leader of a country, then immediately leave the city as if in exile? Considering Hosni Mubarak’s recent moves, we may find out.
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