In August 2014, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi stood praising the media during the era of the late President Gamal Abdel Nasser, and how he was supportive of him, saying, "Nasser was lucky, because he was speaking and the media was with him."
Al-Sisi's statements were considered by some at the time as marking the inauguration of the era of media arms supporting the authority, which Sisi said needed time to build, when he was defense minister.
Days passed, and many Egyptian waters ran into the river of politics, and it seems that Sisi has finally suffered some luck for Abdel Nasser and perhaps more, as the Egyptian media have only spoken with Sisi’s tongue, and they only address the friendliness and consent of the "lucky president."
But the 53rd anniversary of the June 1967 defeat comes today to raise the question of whether Nasser was really fortunate in informing him? Will Sisi also mistake Nasser for his "military fortune"? What is the relationship of the media to the defeat that turned into a setback? In the words of the late journalist Mohamed Hassanein Heikal, who led Abdel Nasser's media for many years.
It seems that these questions - especially the role of the media in the defeat - are the most important remnants of the "June 5" setback, as social media has witnessed wide participation by activists and tweeters.
It is striking that the common factor among the tweeters is the participation of the Egyptian newspaper headlines issued on the morning of the defeat, which was promoting a major military victory.
For his part, Khaled Fahmy, a professor of history at the American University in Cairo, says that the War of 67 did not get what it deserves from studying, explaining that his interest in studying this period stems from his conviction that Egypt is still living its effects and consequences to this day.
Fahmy participated in a drawing published two days after the defeat, depicting the army downing Israeli planes like flies, where the official account was at that time that the army succeeded in shooting down seventy Israeli aircraft, and some newspapers even spoke of greater numbers, while it became clear that the reality was the opposite. Where small Israel achieved a landslide victory over Greater Egypt.
In turn, the researcher and journalist writer Khaled Mansour shared his study on the causes of the defeat, stressing that "if there were other partners in the field of politics in the country, such as parliament, the media, or political parties, Field Marshal Abdel Hakim Amer would surely have disappeared with his misfortunes from the stage of politics after his grave mistakes ".
He stressed that the defeat suffered by Egypt was an inevitable fate, under the rule of an institution that removed the entire people from the field of politics, and decided to speak in its name and represent it, especially when this institution - based on security considerations, loyalty and obedience - moves from managing the battlefields to single control in the fields of politics ".
The director of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, Bahi El-Din Hassan, published a series of tweets about the anniversary of the defeat, stressing that "the mentality that led the people of Egypt to the most horrific defeat in its modern history is still ruling."
He considered that the "June defeat" was not only in military combat, but also in "thought, science, economics, health, education, and democracy."
The defeat continues ... the
mentality that led the people of Egypt 53 years ago to the worst in its modern history still governs
the scientific and health status of Israel in today's world confirms that the defeat of June 5, 1967 was in thought, science, economics, health, education, and democracy before it was military. # Deal _ Century of the mirror for this gap pic.twitter.com/rTWc0pHC7R
- Bahey eldin Hassan (@BaheyHassan) June 5, 2020
For his part, journalist writer Selim Azouz said that the Egyptian army was not qualified to go to war, "but the inspiring military leader sounded the drums of war, so we can still pay the bill for his madness from the flesh of the neighborhood until now."
On the day of defeat ..
The Egyptian army was not qualified to fight any wars, but the energetic military leader sounded the drums of war, so let's pay the bill for his madness from the flesh of the neighborhood until now!
Military rule is a crime, afflicting unfortunate nations, as the military is not fit for politics or governance!
- Selim Azouz (@ selimazouz1) June 5, 2020
As for the media and human rights activist Haitham Abu Khalil, he chose to focus on the mockery of the media of the Sisi regime, and put forward a satirical scenario in which he imagined what they would have said if they were present during the "June defeat".
June 5
Ahmed Moussa: the reason for the defeat betrayal elements tucked Brotherhood
Amr Adib: that happen and Hovoa axis Athsmoa in World War
Seventh Day: we are victorious and all Maigal for the defeat lies of channels Almardhvi outside
Al Arabiya: the withdrawal of tactical Egyptian army
Sisi: Hennintsr Bs Asberwamaia up to 2067 # Arhal_aa_sasa
- Haytham Abokhalil Haytham Abokhalil (@ haythamabokhal1) June 4, 2020
The "media misinformation" was one of the most important reasons for the defeat, and after that, the Egyptian people lost their confidence in the army and political leadership, which was not restored until after the October 1973 war, under the late President Mohamed Anwar Sadat.
Activists emphasized that freedom of opinion and expression, and the openness of the media to criticism and political debate is the greatest guarantee that the defeats of the past will not be repeated.
Others cautioned al-Sisi against pride in controlling the media, and only listening to the one vote, stressing that the consequences are as severe as what happened in Abdel Nasser's media.
Some used the term "Ahmed Said's media", in reference to the Egyptian broadcaster who was broadcasting the news of the victory, but Saeed himself confirmed before his death that he was a victim, and it is illogical to load him as a result of the defeat, as he was just an employee whose entire mission is to broadcast the data he receives Army.
One of the funny things in this context is the mockery of some tweeters from the media close to the security services, Mustafa Bakri, and his reminder of the setback media. Haftar sites in the Libyan West.
😁 This is a product of the School of Defeat Media
Mustafa Bakri, which manages the spirit of Ahmed Saeed 😎 https://t.co/v0K3MAr2BX
- Abdul Salam Al-Rajhi (@fblGHEZPBFjXtAf) June 5, 2020
The flags of Ahmed Saeed and his successor, Amr Adib, https://t.co/HGGrtet6iT
- A7A (@ A7A51307220) June 5, 2020
On the anniversary of the June defeat, we remember Ahmed Saeed’s media, who despite more than five decades have passed, nothing has changed in his deception, lying and dishonesty, and he is still practicing the same practices that led to a resounding defeat .. We hope that God will grant us his victory and rid us of gangs of deceit and treachery.
- Essam Abdul Allah (@essamabdulAllah) June 5, 2020
The reel of June 5 is a remembrance of the setback or the awful defeat. Above left # Leave_ec_pic.twitter.com/oyHwheR1JO
- Dr. Nour Eldein A. 01 (the immigrant) 🌞🔬 (@ nourofficialA1) June 4, 2020
Flags of the setback ... On the occasion of June 5 tomorrow ... are
still the same flags so far ... with the same lies, jokes, and misleading ...
The Arab army is marching to Tel Aviv ...
Our forces penetrate into Israel ... The
people have won, and Abdel Nasser has returned ... pic.twitter.com/AYr2zdQ6HX
- mohamed salem (@ mohamed53303368) June 4, 2020
I would like to remind you about the setback journals on the occasion that today is the memory of the setback and that 😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/Wjxp8S0H8V
- arKarim Ist 🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷 (@ist_karim) June 5, 2020
In memory of # Nksh_67 let us remind them what we flooded the lie and mislead
the military leadership by mired in corruption , supplemented , speeches Mawhoum leader smugly lifted the ignorant and Almoghaibon of the people and walked behind him like a herd
and the media licentious hypocrite praising the day and night
all enemies lie in wait was the setback
and sacrificed their soldiers and the people pic.twitter.com/lnYW7B1VGJ
- Hisham Mahmoud (@ Hisham_mahmoud8) June 5, 2020