Egypt's rulers face heat after Israeli embassy attack

Political groups and commentators have denounced the failure to enforce law The chaotic scenes surrounding the attack on Israel's embassy in Egypt have provoked a storm of criticism over the ruling military's handling of events related to security amid the political transition. Political groups and commentators have denounced the failure to enforce law, suggesting the authorities had allowed the situation to deteriorate into violent clashes late Friday which saw three killed and more than a thousand injured.
"The embassy incidents raise questions," said a statement by the Revolutionary Youth Coalition, a militant network which was part of the revolt that ousted president Hosni Mubarak in February.
Specifically, the group focused on "the disappearance of the armed forces and police when demonstrators began climbing the building and their arrival three hours later."
Late on Friday, Egyptian crowds smashed through an external security wall at the Israeli embassy, while a few protesters managed to get into an office from where they tossed embassy papers from balconies. Others tore down the Israeli flag.
The incident, which also saw six security staff rescued by Egyptian commandos, was the worst since Israel established its mission after Cairo became the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with the Jewish state, in 1979.
It was the latest episode in worsening relations between the two countries since the killing of six Egyptian policemen on their common border as Israel hunted militants after a deadly attack last month.

Liberal columnist Wael Qandil wrote in the independent newspaper Al-Shoruk that the disorder resulted from a "scenario developed to demonise the revolution and the revolutionaries as thugs."
At the other end of Egypt's political spectrum, the Muslim Brotherhood also warned the military, in power since the fall of Mubarak, against invoking security legislation to slow the pace of transition towards civilian rule.
The Party for Freedom and Justice, from the powerful Islamist fraternity, said it "rejects any attempt to use and exploit these incidents to implement martial law, restrict freedoms or delay the deadlines for the transition period."
The Brotherhood also warned against a possible postponement of planned legislative elections set for the autumn under the pretext of deteriorating security.
On Saturday, the government expressed its "total commitment" to protect embassies after the storming of the Israeli mission, saying it would use all provisions of the emergency law to protect diplomatic missions.
The emergency law, which has been severely criticised by pro-democracy and non-government organisations, allows the use of special courts and enforces restrictions on civil liberties in the name of national security.
Information Minister Osama Heikal has said the attack on the Israeli mission was an "attack on Egypt's image," and warned: "Exceptional circumstances demand decisive judicial measures."
This comes as the satellite channel Al-Jazeera Egypt said on Sunday that authorities had prevented it from broadcasting, after entering its offices and confiscating transmission equipment.
Ahmed Zain, the channel's chief in Cairo, told AFP that police, officers from the culture ministry and representatives of Egypt's public broadcaster had also seized materials and that one technician was arrested.
He said they cited the lack of an official licence to broadcast and a complaint from the neighbourhood. He said a lawyer also presented a complaint accusing the channel of "sowing dissent" and "calling for demonstrations."
Zain said Al-Jazeera Egypt had on March 20 requested official authorisation, and that it had been assured it could continue broadcasting in the interim.
The official MENA news agency reported that the closure affected only Al-Jazeera Egypt, not the offices in Cairo of Al-Jazeera and Al-Jazeera International, which have valid licences.
MENA added that the authorities had intervened at the premises of Al-Jazeera Egypt following complaints by its neighbours, and said documents and recordings had been confiscated.
The ruling authorities have cracked down on media outlets seen as diffusing information likely to cause instability in Egypt during its transition following the February ouster of president Hosni Mubarak and transfer of power to the army.
On Wednesday, the government ordered a freeze on new satellite television permits after a meeting with top generals to address "media unruliness," MENA reported.
"It was decided in the meeting to stop issuing licences for satellite channels temporarily," it quoted Information Minister Osama Haikal as saying.
He said the cabinet had also tasked "the investments authority with taking legal measures against (existing) satellite channels that shake stability and security in this period."
The meeting was called to discuss "media unruliness and its effects on citizens... and upcoming elections" this autumn.
Mustafa Kamel Sayyed, a professor of political science at Cairo University, said "these incidents have cast doubt on the rulers' ability to maintain order and ensure the holding of legislative elections in October as planned."
He told AFP that "the slow pace of reform is causing frustration among the majority of political forces."
But he acknowledged that some could also see good emerging from the security measures as the past seven months of political transition have been accompanied by an increase in crime and many demonstrations that have turned violent.
He said that "some people in Egypt are of the opinion that they are ready to accept emergency measures if order can be restored."