A very real threat

Post by **Ebikatsu** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 11:14 am

Don't know how much Middle East news you follow, or what TV channels you watch, but for anyone living in Egypt, especially in Sinai or the Red Sea coastline areas. Do you ever wonder what you would do if there is another war?

Israel is threatening to attack Iran and Lebanon yet again and the Americans seem to be supporting that. Even though Iran has never attacked another country in 1000's of years, purely defended itself!

We have a house in Sinai also and I don't want them occupying my property again like they did 1967.

There are Israeli submarines and battleships who have now crossed Suez and are sitting in the Red Sea. Armed Nuclear warheads on board, M 16's etc ready for take off to bomb Iran. When Iran defend and strike back the Red Sea will be targeted to their warships.

So what are you all going to do?

The ones with Egyptian husbands who are not lucky enough to have dual nationality, or a visa out of Egypt. What will you do? Will you stay here with them?

God knows how Egypt will react when it happens because it will happen.
Will British be safe in Egypt? Will they fight the Israeli's if their borders are crossed? If they do then what? America?

How much time will you have to get out, if you plan to go out? Will you even get out?

Because of the escalation of hostilities and the Israeli's complete disregard for International Law this is a very real threat to people living in the region and so have you all made plans?
What if?
Talking about Senzo Mall etc is all very well but new handbags and shoes and Oxo cubes are not going to be much good to you when it happens.

We are not sitting here in the comfort of our Uk living rooms now. We are in the heart of it.
Do you ever give it a thought?

For me , I have two options.
We can both leave no problem to UK. That's if there are flights.

I also am getting Egyptian citizenship so that whoever knocks on the door, I have a choice on which id to show.

BUT I think we will stay. I think when it happens it will be pretty quick and we will all need our wits about us.

We are talking nuclear here. It won't be like the WW1 and 2.

The Sharm el Shakers and people like us who might be at our place in Sinai will be right in the thick of it.

Just something to think about if you live Sinai and the Red Sea Coast.

Post by **New Gal** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 12:12 pm

Whether you sitting in the comfort of your home in the UK or shopping for handbags, shoes and OXO cubes, whats the point of stressing about it? Its all in Allah’s hands and you are more likely to be run over by a car in the UK than be nuked in Sharm so why stress?

Even if you don’t believe in God or a faith, not living your life for fear of what may or may not happen isn’t really a life I would think?

Its certainly not putting people off moving to these regions in Egypt and I also know of some people moving to Syria and Iran in the next few months.

With regards to safety issues, once I am there inshallah, I will be staying and moving around Egypt and other countries in the Middle East as well as touring South East Asia inshallah where there are terrorist threats in abundance, the Tamil Tigers are just one example of these groups but to be honest, I would not change my plans at all.

American foreign policies are the real concern and I’m just hoping Obama makes a change although this is a bit idealistic on my part me thinks

blame my youth if you will

Post by **Hurghada Lady** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 12:35 pm

I will stay, hubby not a problem but dogs are. My home is here, if I was in England and under threat I wouldn't be moving, so why move from here!

Post by **SarahC** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 12:40 pm

think this is a bit scarmongering!!! War could break out any where! Look at us here in the UK we are constantly under threat from terrorist attacks!

Home is home where ever you live and the threat of war (which i might add might not happen) is something you push to the back of your mind and get on with life.

As new gal said its in the lap of the gods where ever you live.

Sarahx

Post by **Goddess** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 4:15 pm

Hurghada Lady wrote:I will stay, hubby not a problem but dogs are. My home is here, if I was in England and under threat I wouldn't be moving, so why move from here!

Same scenario here HL - it's the blinkin dogs that put the kybosh on everything.

SarahC - I don't think it's scaremongering. These are very real concerns for those of us that live here (at least with the expat ladies of Alex it's something that we talk about often - maybe it's different depending on your situation and your ties to Egypt?)

The problem is that nearly all Egyptians are looking to the future at the moment, as there are some very real concerns lingering about what will happen post-Mubarak. And if you are married to a foreigner it could complicate the issue, and so most people are trying to get their affairs in order should worst come to worst.

Foreigners had their properties confiscated in the last revolution and were booted out of the country. I have a couple of English friends that still talk about what it was like to have lived in Alex during that time and are still here now - so it's something very much in peoples minds.

Post by **Hurghada Lady** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 4:27 pm

I have to say we have had many conversations about post Mubarak, and if the Muslim Brotherhood get in I think we are done for Goddess. Everyone tells me not to worry, even the vet here said I worry to much about it.......but am I really???

Post by **Horus** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 5:50 pm

I think that you are very sensible to be aware of your situation and if possible to have a contingency plan to put into action. I have lived in several areas where the status quo has literally changed overnight, at such times confusion can rule so it is best to be aware of any ongoing situations that may develop. We can never really know the outcome of any major shift in politics either at home or of a foreign country we may happen to be living in at the time, but I think that if you were happy to live there in the first place, then you are unlikely to be somewhere that wishes you ill will. It is always the actions of the new people in power that try to justify themselves by playing upon the prejudices real or imagined of the poorer classes that cause the unrest. I would advise anyone in that situation to just keep a low profile and pretend to go with the flow until it settles.

Post by **Goddess** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 5:53 pm

I guess only time will tell ... but the moment of truth is getting ever closer.
Mr G tries to tell me not to worry, that essentially the Muslim Brotherhood are good ..... but it's the radical element within the party that has me worried not the main party itself.

Do you have Egyptian Nationality HL? I do feel slightly more secure having that, I must admit.

Post by **Jujey** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 6:03 pm

salam,

omg, i would be out of here like lightning........i am dying to get out of here now, so this would give me even a better excuse to leave.
sorry not offending anyone who likes living here

hehehhehe.

have a great night everyone

Post by **Hurghada Lady** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 6:06 pm

No Goddess, I have 5 year visa and of course working visa due to being director of our company. The lady in the visa office keeps saying to me to have an Egyptian passport, but I have refused each time. Do you think that would make much difference to the Radicals, Goddess?

Post by **Goddess** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 6:25 pm

The lady I mentioned earlier that was here during the revolution, her husband recommended she get the passport. They had property in her name and bank accounts in her name and she came through it all unscathed and she thanks her Egyptian passport for that.

Now 50 years later she's just trying to get her hands on an ID card because the law seems to have changed and she now is unable to get through all the bureaucracy without one, she was most distressed to discover she couldn't die as an Egyptian without one.
It was actually this lady and my husband that convinced me Nationality would be a good thing, from a legal point of view, inheritance point of view and also from a security for the future point of view - because if anything (God forbid) should happen to Mr G - I would be unable to claim the nationality at a later date as he has to apply for it on your behalf. I was helped along in my decision by another long term resident that hadn't taken the Nationality and her husband died and she regretted it.

Do I think it would make a difference to the radicals? I'll always be seen as being British I'm sure - but having the ID makes me feel that at least my bank accounts and property couldn't be seized.
It is something you have to think long and hard about HL - for me it was the right decision, Egypt is my home now and I intend that if anyone is to make the decision that I leave it will be me and not some fanatic. Your situation might be different though.

Post by **Hurghada Lady** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 6:35 pm

Not sure how I would stand really, will have to look into it. Our accounts are in the companies name, with me being one of the directors of course hubby another director, this is supposed to keep me safe if anything happened to him as it automatically goes to the other directors. We have a personal joint account also, but think that would be frozen so his family would be able to take an amount from that.

Land and buildings are in the company name also, so they should be safe. I have power of attorney for hubby and he has power of attorney for me if anything should happen to either of us. My brother has power of attorney for me and hubby if we should go together and he is also a director of the company.

Will discuss it with our lawyer in Cairo and see what he says about taking Egyptian Nationality, better to be safe than sorry Goddess

Post by **Goddess** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 7:01 pm

I was going to say speak to a good lawyer HL, especially as you have a business tied up in it too.

One thing to be aware of though, is that a power of attorney ceases to have power after death, as everything gets frozen then anyway and is turned over to inheritance law. The only way around that one is a Bill of Sale that is hidden in a draw until necessary. Any lawyer should know about it and set one up for you.

Post by **Ebikatsu** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 12:40 pm

Goddess wrote:I was going to say speak to a good lawyer HL, especially as you have a business tied up in it too.

One thing to be aware of though, is that a power of attorney ceases to have power after death, as everything gets frozen then anyway and is turned over to inheritance law. The only way around that one is a Bill of Sale that is hidden in a draw until necessary. Any lawyer should know about it and set one up for you.

great point Goddess. A POA cannot represent someone who is dead.

We were told by a bank manager that if you are a power of attorney for someone, you should always if they die, go straight to the bank and empty it leaving a few pounds to keep the account open WITHOUT telling the bank.
A POA cannot close an account!!, That was a BANK MANAGER!!

Egyptian Citizenship in my view is a very good thing to have. That id card is essential should anything happen.

We have had many many conversations with friends about 'should the worst happen' and it is foolish especially living here to ignore what is a very real threat and a turbulent post Mubarak country.

Post by **Ebikatsu** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 1:09 pm

Jujey wrote:salam,

omg, i would be out of here like lightning........i am dying to get out of here now, so this would give me even a better excuse to leave.
sorry not offending anyone who likes living here

hehehhehe.

have a great night everyone

reality setting in Jujey?

Curious.......why did you choose Hurghada ?

Post by **Hurghada Lady** » Tue Aug 11, 2009 1:20 pm

Not too worried about POA, the money, buildings, land etc., all in company name. Will think about taking nationality though Goddess.