Hossam el-Hamalawy's Public Library

As the situation becomes more desperate, Egypt has moved closer to, its American patrons. More arms deals have been signed, and a 1.8 billion dollar aid programme agreed. The bulk of this money will go to food subsidies (estimated £511 million this year) and payment for previous loans. At the same time relations with Russia have reached an all-time low. In mid-March trade and diplomatic agreements were torn up, and Russia denied any military facilities in Egypt. Aimed at disciplining Moscow for its failure to produce more arms, or to reschedule the enormous Egyptian debt, the move was seen by many as an irrevocable step towards the West. Sadat kept his Moscow line just open, however, by signing a new agreement on trade in early May.

Simultaneous with the break with Russia Sadat ordered Prime Minister Salem to introduce a full programme of ‘austerity measures’. This must be a bitter joke for the millions of Egyptians whose lives are already unbearably austere, especially in view of the wave of luxury consumption which followed the lifting of import restrictions. ‘Conspicuous consumption and corruption provokes anger and invites retribution’. (Sunday Times 29.3.76) Within two weeks Egyptian workers had responded with strikes and demonstrations. As reported in Socialist Worker (3.4.76) seventeen thousand textile workers at Damietta struck in protest at the withholding of bonus payments. Salem’s police attacked them with batons and teargas. In Cairo several hundred workers marched to demand wage increases to keep up with price rises, and for better living conditions. Sadat commented that ‘strikes, disturbances and pressure from any element against the government are strictly forbidden.’

Notice that Zionists always have to make a reference to an "Arab friend", as if that token reference can conceal their hostility to Arabs. Don't they know how much they sound like those racists who claim that their "best friends are black"? In fact, even Raphael Patai cites a "Palestinian friend" in his book, The Arab Mind.

هم مكرم محمد أحمد (النقيب الحالي)، وضياء رشوان، الباحث بمركز الدراسات السياسية والاستراتيجية بمؤسسة الأهرام، ومحمد يوسف المصري، الصحفي بجريدة الأهرام، ومجدي عبد الغني الصحفي بجريدة الأخبار، وسيد الاسكندراني الصحفي بجريدة المساء، وأحمد الجبيلي رئيس تحرير جريدة شعب مصر.