"Cairo suffers the public opprobrium from its participation in the Gaza blockade, shows just how it views the threat from Hamas, Iran & Syria"

Ghitis forgets that in Mubarak's mind, Israel could scuttle Gamal's ascandence ... especially, if it chooses to sink him in Washington.

WPR/ here

"... both Israel and Egypt have declared that the territory is under a naval blockade. Similarly, land crossings into Gaza are severely restricted by both governments. As an Arab country, Egypt finds it extremely awkward to act as a full participant in the embargo of Gaza, which is widely reviled throughout the Arab world......

The interaction between the Egyptian government and Hamas is a stiff-armed dance that threatens to break into a fist fight at any time. The two pretend they can pleasantly move together, but occasionally they step on each other's toes, sometimes on purpose. In fact, they would like nothing better than to strangle one another...

The links between Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood are well-established. Egyptian intelligence reportedly believes that Hamas and the Brotherhood leadership maintain close contacts in Damascus, Syria and Gaza. The government of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak fears that a strong Hamas in Gaza could aid the Brothers in Egypt, or become a base for planning and launching operations across the border.

Egypt also worries about Hamas' ties with Iran, Egypt's traditional Shiite rival and the source of much concern through the Arab world....

On the whole, Cairo manages to preserve the appearance of cordial relations with Hamas..... But in recent weeks, the animosity between Hamas and Cairo has made a rare public appearance........ a departure from the script.

Egypt has within its power to break the blockade of Gaza and to open the Raffah border crossing into the strip, allowing every product that Israel currently bans to enter. That might make it a hero to the proverbial Arab Street. The very fact that Cairo instead chooses to suffer the public opprobrium from its participation in the sanctions shows just how seriously it views the threat from Hamas, Iran, and other Islamist organizations. And the politics that dominate the small border between Gaza and Egypt is a mirror of the deep divisions, fears, and dangers lurking in the Middle East."