The Middle East is full of characters!  Some are radicals, some are reformers, and some are revivalists.  Now, lest you think I brilliantly came up with that thought and those descriptors, let me be quick to tell you that Joel Rosenberg, in his book, Inside the Revolution (which I highly recommend), introduced those terms to describe three types of revolutionary leaders in the Middle East.  Last June I summarized “Radicals, Reformers, and Revivalists” and I encourage you to check out that page for further explanation into those terms, and examples of each.

At times it seems like the Middle East is filled with radicals, wanting to do radical things, and seeming to get away with it.  However, that is not the case.  In fact, there are a handful of Arab-Muslim leaders who lend rational voices, and who are opposed to radical Islam and the evil actions of groups such as ISIS, al-Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah and other extremist groups.  They are known as reformers, and we’ll examine two such examples today and tomorrow.

The first is Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.  But first, a quick bit of history.  When Israel became a nation on May 14, 1948, they were immediately attacked by five Arab countries, including Egypt.  Egypt was also involved in attacks on Israel in 1956, 1967, 1973.  US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger initiated peace talks following the 1973 Yom Kippur War, but those efforts stalled.  Finally, following secret negotiations at Camp David, the Camp David Accords were signed in September 1978 between Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, in the presence of US President Jimmy Carter.  Those peace accords led to the official Egypt-Israeli Treaty in March 1979.  With that, Egypt became the first Arab nation to make peace with the Israelis.

Now, fast forward to recent years.  During the Egyptian “Arab Spring” in 2011, moderate Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown and replaced (via questionable elections) by Mohamed Morsi of the very radical Muslim Brotherhood.  To Egypt’s credit, the population soon realized they were headed down the same path of oppression as the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.  Thus, mass protests broke out in 2013 and Morsi was ousted by a military coup, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.  General al-Sisi is now President al-Sisi.  He is a reformer and a rational voice in the Middle East.

Not only did he topple the radical Morsi regime, but he beat down the Muslim Brotherhood, outlawed their sharia initiatives, and imprisoned some of their leaders.  He also declared war on the jihadists operating in the Sinai Peninsula and shut down many of the smuggling tunnels supplying weapons and arms to the Gaza Strip.

During the 2014 Gaza conflict, he proved to be a rational negotiator, showing fairness to Israel and their right to defend themselves.

In an October 2014 interview with Charlie Rose, President al-Sisi was asked about the threat from ISIS, to which he stated (through a translator, in broken English), “I don’t want to get dragged into reducing or countering terrorism.  It doesn’t matter what name they come under.  …[the battle against terrorism] needs a strategy that is comprehensive…culture, military, social strategy.” 

Then came what I consider the most intriguing comment.  When asked if he believed ISIS to be a terrorist group, he said, “The problem is the mindset.  That causes the problem.  Those who adopt this ideology are ready to adopt violence to obtain all their objectives.”  Thus, seeming to speak out against the ideology that appears to be driving terrorism in the Middle East.

A calm-spoken man, it is difficult to know exactly what al-Sisi’s long-term objectives and motives are.  While he showed obvious frustration with the US for withholding aid after many years of financial and military backing, he indicated that the relationship with the US is strong.  To date, he has seemed to be a friendly partner with both the US and Israel, and has shown a different attitude than most of the Arab-Muslim leaders in the region.  He has also taken significant steps to shut down the tunnels used to smuggle weapons into Gaza.  He also seems to be opposed to the aggressive campaigns of ISIS and Iran.

Will President al-Sisi prove to be a long-term, true voice of reason in the Middle East?  Only time will tell.  Do I agree with all he says and does?  No.  But these things I know:

• Egypt has been faithful to their treaty with Israel
• Egypt is not named among the coalition that will invade Israel as described in Ezekiel 38-39
• Isaiah 19 describes Egypt’s prophetic destiny…and you will be amazed by it!

I encourage you to pray for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.  Pray that God will continue to use him as a rational voice in the Middle East.  And pray that our sovereign Lord will make Himself known to the Egyptian people very soon, just as He promises to do in Isaiah 19!