(Jerusalem Post) Zvi Mazel - The Muslim Brotherhood declared itself the victor in the referendum on a constitution solidly grounded in Shari'a and Islamic values. The constitution was drafted in a matter of days by order of President Mohamed Morsi, after six months of endless bickering in the constitutional assembly composed mainly of the Brotherhood and Salafists. Most non-Islamist members and delegates of the Coptic minority had resigned in protest. A mere 32% of the electorate took part in the referendum, with 64% approving the constitution - amounting to only 20% of the electorate. This is a far cry from the wide consensus needed to launch the country on its post-revolutionary path. But the fight is far from over. Elections to parliament have to be held two months after the constitution has been approved. The writer, a fellow of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, is a former ambassador to Romania, Egypt and Sweden.
2012-12-27 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive