ADL Statement on resignation of Hosni Mubarak

New York, NY, February 11, 2011 ““ The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today reacted to the announcement that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has stepped down and has passed power to the Supreme Council for the Armed Forces.

Robert G. Sugarman, ADL National Chair and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director issued the following statement:

The announcement that President Mubarak has left office is an extraordinary historic development for Egypt and the Middle East. We join with the Egyptian people and the international community in hoping this new era will unfold peacefully and smoothly.

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The demonstrations by the people of Egypt against the regime’s authoritarianism and repression, and their demands for greater freedom, political accountability and transparency, have been inspiring to all who cherish democracy and liberty.

There are many unknowns about who will lead Egypt in the short and long term, what their guiding ideology will be, and what kind of Egypt will emerge from this turmoil. It is uncertain what the new role of the military is and how they will govern. There are serious questions about what role the Muslim Brotherhood will play in the transition and beyond, and how this will impact Egypt’s policies, and its relations with the West and the State of Israel.

The people of Egypt must now channel their passion for change into the more difficult task of building the foundations for a true open, inclusive and stable democracy. A truly democratic Egypt will involve the structural, legal, and political reforms, the building of democratic institutions with checks and balances, the growth of a vibrant civil society which is inclusive of minorities and tolerant of dissent.

It is essential for the United States government and the international community to support peaceful transition in Egypt, and urge that those who manage this transitional period commit to sustaining regional stability, including through maintaining and enhancing peaceful relations and security cooperation with Israel.