This isn’t pretty either

These are the 2010 videos of now-President Morsi that the New York Times cites this morning:

There are several things that strike me about these videos:

• Morsi is a remarkably uninspiring speaker.
• He says a lot of things others in Egypt say about “the Zionists.”
• Some Israeli politicians say similar things about Arabs (may they never become president!).
• Morsi isn’t saying these things in public any longer.

I would prefer that the president of Egypt never have stooped to this kind of hate speech.  It reflects badly on him.   But contrary to what Washington Institute colleagues suggest today, the important thing now is what Arabs and Israelis do, not only what they say (or said a couple of years ago).  The jury is still out on what Morsi will do vis-a-vis Israel.  It is unfortunately all too clear what Prime Minister Netanyahu intends to do about expanding settlements.

PS:  Apparently President Obama shares my sentiments on Netanyahu.

PPS:  Morsi is trying to defuse the flap, and leading U.S. members of Congress seem to be buying it.