By Daily Star Editorial

During the early part of this year, there were dramatic scenes of news items from Tahrir Square in Egypt. More recently, during the summer months, the scene shifted to a courtroom in Cairo, where ex-President Hosni Mubarak and others were on trial. This weekend, the drama shifted to the Israeli embassy, where angry Egyptians entered and ransacked the offices belonging to the diplomatic mission.

At least, that’s what appeared to be going on. The saga of the storming of the Israeli embassy raised more questions than it answered, as politicians, activists and the media weighed in on what actually took place.
There were accusations that the police and security personnel were guilty of not being present at critical moments; there were accusations that they behaved improperly, and excessively, when they were around.

There was speculation about the identity of the people who stormed the embassy. Some said they were sent by elements of the old regime, while others maintained it was the work of the ruling Military Council itself. The people who gathered and rushed into the apartment building housing the embassy were labeled everything from “revolutionary youth” to “thugs,” and “football hooligans.” Was the attack staged, in order to generate calls for the Military Council to order a clampdown?

Were other embassies also in danger of being attacked, or was this a show as well?

Was the attack a sign that the authorities have no idea about the mood of the Egyptian street, or how to deal with it?

The only clear thing is that after eight months or so of relative paralysis in Egypt, the country is in desperate need of direction.

The ruling authorities have announced their road map for moving to the next stage of political life. However, their blueprint for transition is generating a considerable amount of anxiety; the authorities have no excuse for not knowing this, since recent rallies at Tahrir Square have been held under the slogan of “correcting the path” of Egypt’s revolution.

In general, one sees a lack of firm will, or convincing vision, of the actual steps needed to bring Egypt from one phase of its history to the next. Political parties of all stripes are genuinely concerned about the course of events, and whether it will lead to a smooth, free and fair election in the fall.

The Military Council has declared that it is committed the polls, and to protecting the premises of foreign embassies, but serious damage has been done to the credibility of the current rulers of Egypt.

The country faces massive political and economic challenges; the council must act wisely and convince the public – not that it is the answer, but that it is capable of steering the ship to safety over the next few months. And they must do so without leaving so many questions in their wake.