George Galloway's office in London has responded to the Guardian's article but not to the substance of Hossam el-Hamalawy's original posting at 3arabawy. This is how Rob Hoveman, an ex-comrade of mine, puts it:
To repeat what we have said many times about this journey across the Maghreb: the convoy is engaged in a balancing act - nevertheless it is important to get the balance right and not to be seen to become a tool of the undemocratic Arab regimes of the region. Sure, this may well be easier said than done but it is not good enough to hold to a 'see no politics, hear no politics' position when the actions of the convoy leaders end up providing political cover for the likes of Mubarak.
Per Bjorklund, a Swedish journalist in Egypt writing on his scandegypt.blogspot.com blog, puts it like this:
We are currently negotiating entry into Egypt and passage through to Gaza. The Egyptian authorities are doing everything they can to assist the process and we are in their hands, as we have been with all the other governments whose countries we have crossed in order to take these vital supplies into Gaza.We wish the convoy well and continue to support the endeavours of all those involved and applaud their commitment, but at the same time continue to worry that any meetings with Mubarak's NDP can only be used by the regime. And is it the case that the opposition is turning its back on the convoy? Also, will George be meeting with the hated steel boss Ahmed Ezz?
To repeat what we have said many times about this journey across the Maghreb: the convoy is engaged in a balancing act - nevertheless it is important to get the balance right and not to be seen to become a tool of the undemocratic Arab regimes of the region. Sure, this may well be easier said than done but it is not good enough to hold to a 'see no politics, hear no politics' position when the actions of the convoy leaders end up providing political cover for the likes of Mubarak.
Per Bjorklund, a Swedish journalist in Egypt writing on his scandegypt.blogspot.com blog, puts it like this:
Note that I'm not condeming the participants in the convoy or suggesting that their initiative is not a "noble undertaking," as the Libyan state-controlled media put it. I'm just saying that activists in Europe should work harder to find ways to support Palestine without alienating the oppresed opposition in Arab countries, as the struggle for a just solution in Palestine must be linked to the struggle for democratic reform and justice in the Middle East.The sooner the convoy gets to Gaza - thereby removing the imperative of having to 'negotiate' with the Egyptian state that refuses to open the border and oppresses the Palestinian solidarity movement - the better.
And Rob, I agree with you - the Guardian's article was indeed an exercise in cynical journalism as we pointed out earlier today on this blog. Why indeed has it not run a story on the great achievements of the convoy to date?
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