Egypt's Measured Response to Operation Pillar of Defense

The Egyptian government confirmed Nov. 15 that Prime Minister Hesham Kandil and other members of the Egyptian Cabinet would visit Gaza on Nov. 16 despite ongoing military action between Hamas and Israel. The Muslim Brotherhood now occupies many key positions in the Egyptian government, so unlike Israeli-Egyptian coordination on Gaza during the Hosni Mubarak era, the Brotherhood must carefully balance the expectations of its supporters against its own regional constraints. The fact that such considerations are even being made testifies to Egypt's ongoing political transition. However, Cairo's response will be informed by geopolitical realities despite rhetoric to the contrary.