Despite early assurances by Egypt's new President Mohamed Morsi regarding his "commitment to international treaties and agreements," one can already foretell a confrontation between Egypt and Israel.
A chaotic transition notwithstanding, a new, postrevolution Egypt is emerging. It is is more self-assertive, emphasizing issues of national dignity and respect. In fact, the world karama — dignity in Arabic — is now paramount in the budding discourse.
The key to understanding post-January 2011 Egypt is to appreciate the inferred but real transformation of the collective psyche of Egyptian society, one that is unequivocally challenging the denigrating stereotype of Egyptians as docile and submissive.