Comments on: Removing the Mubarak name from public places

By: Lisa Goldman

Lisa Goldman — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 21:27:22 +0000

Ben Israel, on the Cairo subway women can choose between mixed and single gender compartments on the same subway train. In Israel, a woman boarding a bus with separate seating does not have the option of choosing to sit with women only or with men and women. That is the essential difference.

The gas deal is not relevant to this post. If you are interested in the subject then, as a courtesy, I can refer you to an informative two-part article on the subject:

Part 1) http://www.travellerwithin.com/2009/08/new-egypt-israel-gas-deal-what-we-need.html

Part 2) http://www.travellerwithin.com/2009/08/egypt-israel-gas-deal-who-is-behind-it.html

By: Ben Israel

Ben Israel — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 21:15:49 +0000

Here is the link to the Ha’aretz article I referred to in the previous comment:

http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/egypt-orders-ex-energy-minister-to-stand-trial-for-natural-gas-deal-with-israel-1.357801

By: Ben Israel

Ben Israel — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 21:15:03 +0000

This article from Ha’aretz indicates that the investigation deals with more than just certain Egyptian gas people from pocketing the proceeds from the gas deals, but the very terms of the agreement are viewed as being “unfair”. Does this mean Egyptians don’t view agreements made in their name by previous governments aren’t necessarily binding in their eyes? (I am of course alluding to the agreements with Israel limiting Egyptian military forces in the Sinai and the such).

Regarding gender-separation on Israeli buses, I have no doubt as many religious women want the separation as much as the religious men so I don’t think it can be clearly stated that the religious men “forced” the issue, any more than in Egypt.

By: Lisa Goldman

Lisa Goldman — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 20:56:55 +0000

Ben Israel:

1) Gamal Mubarak is being investigated for the gas deal because he is suspected of having stolen the revenues;

2) Gender-separated seating on public buses in Israel is imposed upon women by men. The purpose of having a women-only compartment in the Cairo subway is to protect women from men. The rest of the compartments are mixed gender, so women can choose how they wish to travel. The religiously imposed gender separation on Israeli buses is immoral; the fact that the Cairo subway has a women-only compartment is a sad necessity.

By: Ben Israel

Ben Israel — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 20:52:02 +0000

I just saw in the news that one of the crimes Mubarak and others are being investigated for is the natural gas deal with Israel

Regarding the gender-segregated subway cars in Israel, I find it interesting that “progressives” in Israel oppose proposals to have gender-segregated seating on public buses in Israel.