Al-Sharq al-Awsat, London, Originally posted in Arabic on August 6
Egypt’s new Suez Canal officially welcomed ships this week, following a lavish inauguration ceremony that included speeches from president Al-Sissi and a host of foreign leaders. The new canal — dug in a record time of less than a year — allows, for the first time ever, for two-way traffic between the North and South entry points of the canal.
However, not everyone in Egypt was celebrating the achievement this week. The Muslim Brotherhood, President Al-Sissi’s sworn opposition, was quick to criticize the project and accuse the president of “stealing” the idea from ousted president Mohammad Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood. This public criticism goes to show the wide abyss that exists between the two sides, and how the Muslim Brotherhood refuses to come to terms with Al-Sissi’s reign.
Historically, the Brotherhood has been very successful in mobilizing the masses against the regime. This was easily seen in the 2011 Egyptian revolution. Not anymore. Today, the Brotherhood has lost its power. The Egyptians view the new canal as a source of national pride that represents a new era for Egyptian democracy; not as a presidential or governmental initiative.
For the millions of Egyptians, an insult on the canal is an insult on all Egyptians. They Egyptians are tired of civil wars and political turmoil. The Brotherhood’s battle over the new Suez Canal is doomed to begin with. Egypt is ready to re-open for business and put the Arab Spring in its past – Abd al-Rhaman Rashed