By Yvonne Ridley
The activities of the rent boys who parade up and down Al-Shawarby Street in
Cairo provide a good metaphor for the relationship the Egyptian Government
has with Israel and the USA.
Both are quite shameless and ruthless; prepared to do whatever it takes to
please ... in order to secure a fistful of dollars.
But at least the man whores of Al Shawarby are honest about their trade, as
they eagerly hustle potential customers.
Yes, they are shameless but so is the Egyptian Government as it continues to
enforce the brutal siege in Gaza for Israel's pleasure, and America's
dollars.
The tears it sheds for the besieged people of Gaza are crocodilian.
And today the government stands before its people completely naked, without
honour, as the last fig leaf of decency floats despairingly to the ground.
I am making this rather crude analogy as I sit in my hotel room over-looking
the River Nile. The view is breath-taking and just 50 yards away is the
Egyptian Museum, which reveals a rich history of a once great country.
The buildings around are decrepit, rundown like much of the country.
But I haven't sat down to give you a travel report. I am one of 1400 peace
activists from across the world, who is trapped in Cairo, unable to move
forward to take part in the Gaza Freedom March planned for New Year's Day.
Most of us answered the rallying call of the USA peace activist group Code
Pink.
Meanwhile another shameful drama is unfolding just a few hundred miles away,
as life-long Palestinian supporter George Galloway sits trapped in the port
of Aqaba as his latest Viva Palestina convoy has been stopped from moving
forward.
The British MP's convoy of 250 vehicles and hundreds more supporters has
been prevented from leaving Jordan with its much needed aid.
Why? Because America and Israel have told Egypt not to let a single vehicle,
or peace activist, pass through its country to the Rafah border, and in to
Gaza, where an entire population is suffering beyond belief and, it seems,
beyond humanitarian relief.
So why doesn't Egypt tell Washington and Tel Aviv to get stuffed? For
exactly the same reason, a rent boy will do as his master tells him ... hard
cash.
Proof? Exactly two years ago under the Bush Administration, both houses of
USA Congress agreed to withhold 100 million dollars in financial assistance
to Egypt, following Israeli claims that Egyptian authorities were failing to
prevent weapons smuggling to the Gaza Strip. Egypt receives nearly two
billion dollars in USA aid, making it the second largest recipient of USA
largesse after Israel, which receives three billion dollars a year in
military assistance.
And now the Middle East's most active rent boy has a new master pimp -
Barack Obama - although his White House enforcers have made sure the same
house rules apply.
Now while the Egyptian Government might bend over backwards - or just bend
over - the real enforcers will find Viva Palestina and the Gaza Freedom
Marchers far less compliant.
We have travelled from more than 40 different countries to Cairo, while
others have driven thousands of miles to Aqaba, to show our solidarity to
the people of Gaza - we represent the largest gathering of international
solidarity activists in the history of the Middle East.
Using the pretext of escalating tensions on the Gaza-Egypt border, the
Egyptian Foreign Ministry said that the Rafah border will be closed over the
coming weeks. Our message to the politicians is crystal clear: "Let us enter
Gaza and let the Gaza Freedom March proceed."
Quite simply, you can not buy us. Integrity, freedom and our love for Gaza
is not for sale at any price.
Egyptian Security goons have already used fear and intimidation on the
management of the venues the Gaza Freedom Marchers have booked, as well as
transport companies who contracted buses to carry us from Cairo to Gaza,
with the result that these deals have been cancelled.
Egyptian Security even tried to pressurise the management of the Groppi
coffee shop on Midan Talaat Harb to shut down while we were organising
meetings. Despite warning us that more than six people can not gather in
public places, our meeting continued.
We will not bow to fear and intimidation, but what we will do is increase
the pressure on the Rent Boy Government and where injustice is, the law
resistance is our duty.
And as Malcolm X once said: "Power in defence of freedom is greater than
power on behalf of tyranny and oppression."
*British journalist Yvonne Ridley is travelling with Indy film-maker Warren
Biggs making a documentary about the Gaza Freedom March. She is a founder
member of Viva Palestina and a member of the RESPECT Party. She also
presents the Rattansi & Ridley show and The Agenda for Press TV, as well as
writes columns for newspapers across the world. Her website is
http://www.yvonneridley.org
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