The Arab Spring brought the prospects for democratic development, but also the very real risks of Islamic ascension, political and economic chaos, humanitarian disaster and the persecution of Christians.
The performance of the Islamist party Ennahda in the October 23 Tunisian elections, in which it won 41.5 percent of the seats, raised eyebrows in the West.
Nearly a month and a half later a special report from Cairo to USA Today carried the headline "Muslim Brotherhood Wins in Egyptian Elections" (Dec. 6, 2011). The article drophead stated: "Parties' ambitions to spread Islamic law concern some." In the elections, "the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party topped winners with 37% of the nearly 10 million valid ballots cast for party lists in the first of three electoral rounds for the Egyptian parliament."
For the state of Israel looking around at neighboring enemies, Egypt had been a bright spot. No more. It's hard to imagine anything but a future cooling in Israeli-Egyptian relations. The Syrian-based Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, which rules Gaza, is returning to its Brotherhood roots ("Hamas Joins Global Muslim Brotherhood," Ynet News, Dec. 10, 2011). Several reports show that it's even been contemplating moving its headquarters from Syria to Egypt.
Even if the Islamists do not completely dominate the emerging governments in the region, one thing is sure: The Arab world is undergoing seismic and irreversible change. As more and more dictatorial leaders fall (is Syria's Assad next?) and the masses rise up, so do the chances for internal and external conflicts. The deep-seated hostility toward Israel is growing in openness and intensity, making the prospects for peace in the Middle East very dim.
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