15 july 2013
The General Command of Egyptian Armed Forces have ordered the demolition of all tunnels between Gaza and Egypt during the next few days before the start of the security operation in Sinai against armed groups, Seventh Day Egyptian website revealed. The operation aims to prevent any “dangerous elements” from infiltrating into the Egyptian territories to target the Egyptian national security, the General Command claimed.
Army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sissi has given directives to Major General Staff Taher Abdullah, head of the engineering corps, to destroy the tunnels in a short period by bulldozers or water immersion to thwart any attempt to target the Egyptian national security or to smuggle food or fuel products to Gaza in light the economic crisis prevailing in Egypt.
The sources added that the Egyptian Army leadership ordered to check all names that entered Sinai through the Rafah crossing during the past 6 months in order to arrest any suspect that belongs to “extremist groups”.
Tunnels between Egypt and Gaza have been the main life line to the 1.7 million residents of Gaza since the Israeli siege was imposed in 2006 following Hamas's victory in the Palestinian parliamentarian elections which was internationally agreed upon.
Army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sissi has given directives to Major General Staff Taher Abdullah, head of the engineering corps, to destroy the tunnels in a short period by bulldozers or water immersion to thwart any attempt to target the Egyptian national security or to smuggle food or fuel products to Gaza in light the economic crisis prevailing in Egypt.
The sources added that the Egyptian Army leadership ordered to check all names that entered Sinai through the Rafah crossing during the past 6 months in order to arrest any suspect that belongs to “extremist groups”.
Tunnels between Egypt and Gaza have been the main life line to the 1.7 million residents of Gaza since the Israeli siege was imposed in 2006 following Hamas's victory in the Palestinian parliamentarian elections which was internationally agreed upon.
14 july 2013
By Khalid Amayreh
The American government's reluctance- or effective refusal to condemn the anti-Islamist coup in Egypt, which deposed that country's only democratically-elected President ever, Dr. Muhammed Mursi, speaks volumes. It simply lays naked the hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy of Washington's policies toward the Muslim world.
It also shows that the U.S. is still the same U.S. of John Foster Dulles, Alexander Hague, Henry Kissinger and Richard Nixon-just to mention a few prominent immoralists who identified and represented America 's nefarious approach to the rest of the world, especially the Third world.
Indeed, under the guise of spreading and encouraging democracy, the U.S. helped overthrow democratically elected leaders in many countries in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and South America .
Who amongst us doesn't remember Dr. Muhammed Musadeq, Salvador Allende, or Kwame Nkrumah? Or the incessant American attempts to assassinate or poison Cuban leader Fidel Castro?
George W . Bush was quoted as referring to Anastasio Somoza, the CIA-backed Nicaraguan dictator as the following: "He's a son-of-a-bitch, but he's our son-of-a-bitch."
The same scandalous phrase was uttered repeatedly by other American officials trying to justify the inherently unethical policy of embracing tyrants in many parts of the world against their peoples' will..
Now, history is repeating itself , with the US abandoning all its pretensions about democracy and opting to prop up and consolidate the new military-backed fascism in Egypt . (it is fascism par excellence because the new rulers are effectively decapitating human rights and civil liberties including freedom of speech and press freedom in full view of the world).
The fact that General Abdul Fattah Sisi ordered troops to massacre unarmed innocent civilian demonstrators while performing prayers at dawn, round up political opponents without charge or trial, close down non-conformist media outlets, let alone overthrow the country's legitimate leadership and suspend the Egyptian constitution, approved by more than 63% of the Egyptian people-seems utterly insignificant and avails to nothing as far as Washington is concerned.
This is because Washington is the very same old Washington , the capital of the evil empire that doesn’t hesitate to prostitute and sacrifice its own purported values for its parochial interests.
It is the same Washington that colluded with France to annul the Algerian election of 1991-92 which the Islamic Salvation Front was poised to win. It is the same Washington that imposed a draconian and hermetic embargo on the Palestinian people following Hamas's electoral victory in 2006. Needless to say, the harsh and morally-repugnant blockade is yet to be lifted.
All this shows beyond doubt that Washington doesn't have fixed principles, especially moral principles, but rather has fixed interests-interests that are maintained and protected through immoral and often criminal means.
It is true that Sisi and cohorts are the executive coup makers. However, given the Egyptian armed forces' "special" subservient relationship with the Pentagon, it would be naïve to think that Sisi, an ignorant and poorly educated officer who can barely read a grammatically correct Arabic sentence, would or could have carried out the sinister coup without coordination with Washington or at least a certain green light from it.
America's days of infamy are too many and the immorality of its policies toward Muslims are no news to most of us.
Never the less, the dark embrace between Washington and Sisi & cohorts should be a final eye-opener for those who may still be prompted to think there is a grain of morality or good in America's approach to Muslims in general.
I have no doubt that the Egyptian people will discover America's maliciousness, though belatedly and at a great loss.
But, none the less, the inherent corruptness and political impotence of people like Sisi and cohorts, expected to be played out in weeks and months to come. will sooner or later expose American evil intentions and destructive interference in the internal affairs of countries such as Egypt .
In order to succeed and be resilient, great revolutions need painful blows and ordeals. It is hoped that after this agonizing episode, the Egyptian people will be in a better position to know their real friends and real enemies.
The American government's reluctance- or effective refusal to condemn the anti-Islamist coup in Egypt, which deposed that country's only democratically-elected President ever, Dr. Muhammed Mursi, speaks volumes. It simply lays naked the hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy of Washington's policies toward the Muslim world.
It also shows that the U.S. is still the same U.S. of John Foster Dulles, Alexander Hague, Henry Kissinger and Richard Nixon-just to mention a few prominent immoralists who identified and represented America 's nefarious approach to the rest of the world, especially the Third world.
Indeed, under the guise of spreading and encouraging democracy, the U.S. helped overthrow democratically elected leaders in many countries in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and South America .
Who amongst us doesn't remember Dr. Muhammed Musadeq, Salvador Allende, or Kwame Nkrumah? Or the incessant American attempts to assassinate or poison Cuban leader Fidel Castro?
George W . Bush was quoted as referring to Anastasio Somoza, the CIA-backed Nicaraguan dictator as the following: "He's a son-of-a-bitch, but he's our son-of-a-bitch."
The same scandalous phrase was uttered repeatedly by other American officials trying to justify the inherently unethical policy of embracing tyrants in many parts of the world against their peoples' will..
Now, history is repeating itself , with the US abandoning all its pretensions about democracy and opting to prop up and consolidate the new military-backed fascism in Egypt . (it is fascism par excellence because the new rulers are effectively decapitating human rights and civil liberties including freedom of speech and press freedom in full view of the world).
The fact that General Abdul Fattah Sisi ordered troops to massacre unarmed innocent civilian demonstrators while performing prayers at dawn, round up political opponents without charge or trial, close down non-conformist media outlets, let alone overthrow the country's legitimate leadership and suspend the Egyptian constitution, approved by more than 63% of the Egyptian people-seems utterly insignificant and avails to nothing as far as Washington is concerned.
This is because Washington is the very same old Washington , the capital of the evil empire that doesn’t hesitate to prostitute and sacrifice its own purported values for its parochial interests.
It is the same Washington that colluded with France to annul the Algerian election of 1991-92 which the Islamic Salvation Front was poised to win. It is the same Washington that imposed a draconian and hermetic embargo on the Palestinian people following Hamas's electoral victory in 2006. Needless to say, the harsh and morally-repugnant blockade is yet to be lifted.
All this shows beyond doubt that Washington doesn't have fixed principles, especially moral principles, but rather has fixed interests-interests that are maintained and protected through immoral and often criminal means.
It is true that Sisi and cohorts are the executive coup makers. However, given the Egyptian armed forces' "special" subservient relationship with the Pentagon, it would be naïve to think that Sisi, an ignorant and poorly educated officer who can barely read a grammatically correct Arabic sentence, would or could have carried out the sinister coup without coordination with Washington or at least a certain green light from it.
America's days of infamy are too many and the immorality of its policies toward Muslims are no news to most of us.
Never the less, the dark embrace between Washington and Sisi & cohorts should be a final eye-opener for those who may still be prompted to think there is a grain of morality or good in America's approach to Muslims in general.
I have no doubt that the Egyptian people will discover America's maliciousness, though belatedly and at a great loss.
But, none the less, the inherent corruptness and political impotence of people like Sisi and cohorts, expected to be played out in weeks and months to come. will sooner or later expose American evil intentions and destructive interference in the internal affairs of countries such as Egypt .
In order to succeed and be resilient, great revolutions need painful blows and ordeals. It is hoped that after this agonizing episode, the Egyptian people will be in a better position to know their real friends and real enemies.
Hamas leader Dr. Salah Bardawil warned of the continued "systematic and organized campaign" to distort the resistance and drive a wedge between Palestinian and Egyptian peoples, waged by bodies inside the Ramallah authority. Bardawil accused in remarks to Quds Press on Sunday Palestinian, Egyptian, Arab and international bodies of inciting against Hamas and tarnishing the resistance.
He said that the Fatah authority in Ramallah, in coordination with some Israeli parties, send fabricated information to the Egyptian media in order to raise suspicions against Hamas and drive a wedge between the Palestinian and Egyptian peoples.
Meanwhile, the Brigades of Martyr Izz al-Din al-Qassam denied releasing a statement talking about supporting the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt claimed to be signed by the commander of the Qassam Brigades in the Gaza Strip.
Abu Obeida, spokesman for Al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement on Sunday that those who are promoting such lies at such sensitive situation are the enemies of the Egyptian and Palestinian peoples and want to serve Israel.
He warned the media in all its forms from the dissemination and promotion of such lies, stressing that the Qassam Brigades do not operate outside the borders of Palestine and that their only enemy is the Israeli occupation.
He said that the Fatah authority in Ramallah, in coordination with some Israeli parties, send fabricated information to the Egyptian media in order to raise suspicions against Hamas and drive a wedge between the Palestinian and Egyptian peoples.
Meanwhile, the Brigades of Martyr Izz al-Din al-Qassam denied releasing a statement talking about supporting the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt claimed to be signed by the commander of the Qassam Brigades in the Gaza Strip.
Abu Obeida, spokesman for Al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement on Sunday that those who are promoting such lies at such sensitive situation are the enemies of the Egyptian and Palestinian peoples and want to serve Israel.
He warned the media in all its forms from the dissemination and promotion of such lies, stressing that the Qassam Brigades do not operate outside the borders of Palestine and that their only enemy is the Israeli occupation.
The Islamic Movement in the 1948 occupied lands organized a massive rally on Saturday afternoon in support of the legitimate Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi and in solidarity with the protestors in Rabaa Adaweya square. Thousands of Palestinian citizens led by prominent figures, including Sheikh Ra'ed Salah, participated in the march, which started from Othman Ibn Affan Mosque in Kafr Kana village to the east of Nazareth city.
The participants carried banners condemning the military coup against president Mohamed Morsi and chanted slogans calling for protecting democracy in Egypt.
In his speech during the rally, Sheikh Ra'ed Salah, head of the Islamic Movement, called on the protestors in all Egyptian cities to stay steadfast against the conspiracy that was hatched by internal and external parties against their president.
Sheikh Salah stressed that the military coup in Egypt trampled over the blood of hundreds of the Arab Spring martyrs in Egypt and the Arab world and would be a dark stain on its perpetrators.
The participants carried banners condemning the military coup against president Mohamed Morsi and chanted slogans calling for protecting democracy in Egypt.
In his speech during the rally, Sheikh Ra'ed Salah, head of the Islamic Movement, called on the protestors in all Egyptian cities to stay steadfast against the conspiracy that was hatched by internal and external parties against their president.
Sheikh Salah stressed that the military coup in Egypt trampled over the blood of hundreds of the Arab Spring martyrs in Egypt and the Arab world and would be a dark stain on its perpetrators.
The Hamas Movement denied Egyptian allegations about its involvement in what is happening in the Sinai Peninsula and described them as unfounded. In a press release, its spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri pointed out to the recent remarks made by head of the Sinai tribes Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Mane'ie, in which he denied any Hamas presence in the Sinai and confirmed that such allegations were aimed at serving the Israeli occupation and driving a wedge between the Palestinians and Egyptians.
Abu Zuhri underlined that these remarks by Sheikh Mane'ie confirmed that all allegations accusing Hamas of being involved in the Sinai were lies.
Hamas had denounced the commander of the second field army for his claims about dismantling armed groups affiliated with Hamas in Sinai and described his accusations as an attempt to export the Egyptian crisis to the Palestinian arena.
Sheikh Ibrahim Mane'ie, in turn, responded to the Egyptian army's allegations about Hamas and denied in a press statement to Al-Resala Net any Hamas involvement in the Sinai and held commander of the Egyptian army Abdul-Fattah Assisi fully responsible for the killing of soldiers in Sinai.
In a related context, an Egyptian informed source told Quds press on condition of anonymity that there is a scheme masterminded and led by former Fatah leader Mohamed Dahlan in cooperation with some Gulf states and Israel to drive a wedge between Gaza and the Egyptian army.
The source affirmed that Dahlan activated his contacts with unruly armed groups through corrupt security officials from Sinai and funneled millions of dollars to them in order to launch attacks on Egyptian military and police targets, especially in the areas near the Gaza Strip.
The source added that Israel facilitated Dahlan's plan and some Gulf states, which rushed to declare its support for the military coup in Egypt, funded it.
The source asserted that this plan is aimed at provoking the Egyptian army into launching a massive military operation in Sinai with Israel's consent in order to tighten the blockade on Gaza and strangle the government of Hamas.
He noted that the criminal Egyptian groups in Sinai do not know about the involvement of Dahlan in their attacks, and they carried out the tasks assigned to them after receiving millions of dollars from Egyptian security officials who had already been bribed by Dahlan.
Abu Zuhri underlined that these remarks by Sheikh Mane'ie confirmed that all allegations accusing Hamas of being involved in the Sinai were lies.
Hamas had denounced the commander of the second field army for his claims about dismantling armed groups affiliated with Hamas in Sinai and described his accusations as an attempt to export the Egyptian crisis to the Palestinian arena.
Sheikh Ibrahim Mane'ie, in turn, responded to the Egyptian army's allegations about Hamas and denied in a press statement to Al-Resala Net any Hamas involvement in the Sinai and held commander of the Egyptian army Abdul-Fattah Assisi fully responsible for the killing of soldiers in Sinai.
In a related context, an Egyptian informed source told Quds press on condition of anonymity that there is a scheme masterminded and led by former Fatah leader Mohamed Dahlan in cooperation with some Gulf states and Israel to drive a wedge between Gaza and the Egyptian army.
The source affirmed that Dahlan activated his contacts with unruly armed groups through corrupt security officials from Sinai and funneled millions of dollars to them in order to launch attacks on Egyptian military and police targets, especially in the areas near the Gaza Strip.
The source added that Israel facilitated Dahlan's plan and some Gulf states, which rushed to declare its support for the military coup in Egypt, funded it.
The source asserted that this plan is aimed at provoking the Egyptian army into launching a massive military operation in Sinai with Israel's consent in order to tighten the blockade on Gaza and strangle the government of Hamas.
He noted that the criminal Egyptian groups in Sinai do not know about the involvement of Dahlan in their attacks, and they carried out the tasks assigned to them after receiving millions of dollars from Egyptian security officials who had already been bribed by Dahlan.
13 july 2013
Egyptian security officials arrested a Palestinian man late Friday in relation to a bomb blast which targeted a gas pipeline in Sinai last week, security officials said.
Mohamed Abu Hashem, 30, was detained in the Sinai peninsula while trying to return to the Gaza Strip, Egyptian officials said, and faces charges of blowing up a gas pipeline in north Sinai last Sunday.
Saboteurs blew up the pipeline, which supplied natural gas to Jordan, in two places.
One explosion shook the city of El-Arish, causing flames which could be seen from the distance, witnesses and security officials said.
A Jordanian government official confirmed that gas supplies to the energy-poor kingdom were cut.
"The gas supplies to Jordan stopped due to the attack," the official told state-run Petra news agency.
"The Egyptian authorities have informed us that they are currently evaluating the situation and the damage," he added without elaborating.
Egyptian gas covers 80 percent of electricity generation in Jordan, which imports 95 percent of its energy needs.
In 2011, militants targeted several pipelines in Sinai supplying gas to Israel and Jordan. Around 40 percent of Israel's natural gas is imported from Egypt.
On Saturday with gunmen killed a Coptic Christian priest by dragging him from his car and riddling him with bullets in the restive north of the Sinai peninsula, security sources said.
Mohamed Abu Hashem, 30, was detained in the Sinai peninsula while trying to return to the Gaza Strip, Egyptian officials said, and faces charges of blowing up a gas pipeline in north Sinai last Sunday.
Saboteurs blew up the pipeline, which supplied natural gas to Jordan, in two places.
One explosion shook the city of El-Arish, causing flames which could be seen from the distance, witnesses and security officials said.
A Jordanian government official confirmed that gas supplies to the energy-poor kingdom were cut.
"The gas supplies to Jordan stopped due to the attack," the official told state-run Petra news agency.
"The Egyptian authorities have informed us that they are currently evaluating the situation and the damage," he added without elaborating.
Egyptian gas covers 80 percent of electricity generation in Jordan, which imports 95 percent of its energy needs.
In 2011, militants targeted several pipelines in Sinai supplying gas to Israel and Jordan. Around 40 percent of Israel's natural gas is imported from Egypt.
On Saturday with gunmen killed a Coptic Christian priest by dragging him from his car and riddling him with bullets in the restive north of the Sinai peninsula, security sources said.
Palestinian premier Ismail Haneyya strongly denounced some Palestinian and Egyptian parties for fabricating lies to implicate his government and the Hamas Movement in the current events in Egypt. In a speech during the opening of a new mosque in Gaza on Friday, premier Haneyya stated that such lies only serve the Israeli occupation and cause damage to the Palestinian society.
Haneyya slammed some factions from the Palestine liberation organization (PLO) and Egyptian parties for falsely accusing his government and Hamas of interfering in Egypt's internal affairs and its current events, describing these accusations as unfounded allegations.
For its part, the Hamas Movement refuted military claims by Egypt that its army dismantled armed groups from Hamas in the Sinai Peninsula and described them as lies.
Its spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri stated that these Egyptian accusations are an attempt to export the Egyptian crisis to the Palestinian arena.
Egyptian media outlets had quoted Ahmed Wasfi, a senior Egyptian officer, as saying that the armed forces succeeded during the last two weeks in dismantling a large number of criminal cells and inflicting big losses on many jihadists from Hamas during operations in Sinai.
In another incident, an Egyptian military helicopter at dawn Friday overflew at low altitude different areas of Khan Younis and Rafah in southern Gaza.
Safa news agency reported that eyewitnesses spotted an Egyptian helicopter coming from the Egyptian side and kept flying around over most of the districts of Khan Younis and Rafah for about an hour before withdrawing into the Egyptian territory.
Haneyya slammed some factions from the Palestine liberation organization (PLO) and Egyptian parties for falsely accusing his government and Hamas of interfering in Egypt's internal affairs and its current events, describing these accusations as unfounded allegations.
For its part, the Hamas Movement refuted military claims by Egypt that its army dismantled armed groups from Hamas in the Sinai Peninsula and described them as lies.
Its spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri stated that these Egyptian accusations are an attempt to export the Egyptian crisis to the Palestinian arena.
Egyptian media outlets had quoted Ahmed Wasfi, a senior Egyptian officer, as saying that the armed forces succeeded during the last two weeks in dismantling a large number of criminal cells and inflicting big losses on many jihadists from Hamas during operations in Sinai.
In another incident, an Egyptian military helicopter at dawn Friday overflew at low altitude different areas of Khan Younis and Rafah in southern Gaza.
Safa news agency reported that eyewitnesses spotted an Egyptian helicopter coming from the Egyptian side and kept flying around over most of the districts of Khan Younis and Rafah for about an hour before withdrawing into the Egyptian territory.
12 july 2013
UFree Network to Defend the Rights of Palestinian Political Prisoners and Detainees expressed deep concern over the Egyptian authorities' treatment of Palestinians since July 2 ,2013. In a press release issued on Friday, UFree stressed the need to respect the right of freedom of movement provided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International covenants on civil and political rights.
In this regard, the Network strongly condemned Palestinians' arrest in Egypt illegally and the overuse of "deportation room" recently.
UFree documented dozens of detention cases in Cairo airport for more than five days in inhuman conditions. Palestinians are being held in rooms allocated for suspects and criminals without the most basic amenities. Large numbers of Palestinians were deliberately held in very small rooms suffering from food and medicines shortage.
A Palestinian journalist, who preferred to remain anonymous for security reasons, told UFree that he was detained with 15 Palestinians and 40 Egyptians crowded in a very small room for more than 10 hours, where they were treated as prisoners.
Palestinians who hold "permanent residence" were deported to other countries while the rest were detained amid fears of threats and assaults, the journalist added.
Among those detained in the "deportation room" at Cairo airport, two Palestinians managed to travel to Yemen, another was able to travel to Jordan, three Palestinians managed to travel to Tunisia, while the rest have declared an open hunger strike protesting their ill-treatment, he said.
The Egyptian authorities have banned the entry of any Palestinian to the Egyptian territories even those in possession of a valid visa. Hundreds of pilgrims are stuck in Saudi Arabia as the Egyptian authorities refused their return to the Gaza strip.
UFree Network called on Egyptian authorities to put an end to the deportation and detention policy against Palestinians especially that most of the detained travelers were on their way for treatment.
In this regard, the Network strongly condemned Palestinians' arrest in Egypt illegally and the overuse of "deportation room" recently.
UFree documented dozens of detention cases in Cairo airport for more than five days in inhuman conditions. Palestinians are being held in rooms allocated for suspects and criminals without the most basic amenities. Large numbers of Palestinians were deliberately held in very small rooms suffering from food and medicines shortage.
A Palestinian journalist, who preferred to remain anonymous for security reasons, told UFree that he was detained with 15 Palestinians and 40 Egyptians crowded in a very small room for more than 10 hours, where they were treated as prisoners.
Palestinians who hold "permanent residence" were deported to other countries while the rest were detained amid fears of threats and assaults, the journalist added.
Among those detained in the "deportation room" at Cairo airport, two Palestinians managed to travel to Yemen, another was able to travel to Jordan, three Palestinians managed to travel to Tunisia, while the rest have declared an open hunger strike protesting their ill-treatment, he said.
The Egyptian authorities have banned the entry of any Palestinian to the Egyptian territories even those in possession of a valid visa. Hundreds of pilgrims are stuck in Saudi Arabia as the Egyptian authorities refused their return to the Gaza strip.
UFree Network called on Egyptian authorities to put an end to the deportation and detention policy against Palestinians especially that most of the detained travelers were on their way for treatment.
11 july 2013
An Egyptian military source told the London-based Arabic-language al-Hayat newspaper on Thursday morning that Egyptian army forces have killed 32 members of Hamas and arrested several others over the past few days in the Sinai Peninsula.
According to the newspaper, the Egyptian army's military operations in Sinai killed 32 Hamas militants and arrested 45 of the group's members.
The Egyptian military source said the army was finding it difficult to gain control of Sinai due to movements detected by Hamas activists cooperating with jihadists in Sinai.
"They enter Sinai through the tunnels to carry out attacks, along with others, and then return to Gaza through the tunnels. They take advantage of the surface and hide in the mountains," the source added.
It's worth mentioning that situation in Sinai has been unstable since the 2011 revolution and has recently deteriorated once again. The Egyptian army fears more deterioration in Sinai due to possible attacks by armed groups affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood movement.
According to the newspaper, the Egyptian army's military operations in Sinai killed 32 Hamas militants and arrested 45 of the group's members.
The Egyptian military source said the army was finding it difficult to gain control of Sinai due to movements detected by Hamas activists cooperating with jihadists in Sinai.
"They enter Sinai through the tunnels to carry out attacks, along with others, and then return to Gaza through the tunnels. They take advantage of the surface and hide in the mountains," the source added.
It's worth mentioning that situation in Sinai has been unstable since the 2011 revolution and has recently deteriorated once again. The Egyptian army fears more deterioration in Sinai due to possible attacks by armed groups affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood movement.
10 july 2013
The deputy head of the Islamic Movement in the 1948-Occupied Territories, Kamal al-Khatib, stated that Israel may have played a frole in the military coup in Egypt especially in light the Israeli satisfaction following the coup. Al-Khatib pointed out to the Israeli leaders' statements that welcomed the Egyptian army coup that ousted the first democratically elected president in Egypt's history.
Under orders from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his cabinet is keeping tight-lipped over the ongoing chaos in neighboring Egypt, and has been instructed to not make any public comment while the Egyptian regime remains unstable.
AL-Khatib also pointed out to the Israeli envoy to Cairo for security coordination one day after the army coup as part of the Israeli plans to thwart the Arab spring revolutions.
Israeli officials privately believe the military coup in Egypt could prove beneficial to the Israeli entity, due to a loss of influence of the Muslim Brotherhood, which has close ties to Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Israeli media sources said.
Under orders from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his cabinet is keeping tight-lipped over the ongoing chaos in neighboring Egypt, and has been instructed to not make any public comment while the Egyptian regime remains unstable.
AL-Khatib also pointed out to the Israeli envoy to Cairo for security coordination one day after the army coup as part of the Israeli plans to thwart the Arab spring revolutions.
Israeli officials privately believe the military coup in Egypt could prove beneficial to the Israeli entity, due to a loss of influence of the Muslim Brotherhood, which has close ties to Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Israeli media sources said.
The Hamas Movement categorically denied any relationship with the two persons who were allegedly arrested on Assalam bridge in Egypt. Its spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri stated that the two young men who were allegedly arrested on Monday by the Egyptian army on this Bridge were not from Hamas or any Palestinian faction.
Abu Zuhri also said that the Egyptian claims about the presence of some individuals from Hamas among the Egyptian citizens who were attacked on Monday by the republican guards are unfounded lies.
The spokesman called on the Egyptian media to stop their smear campaign against Hamas and the Palestinian resistance, and their attempts to implicate the Palestinians in the Egyptian political conflict.
In a related context, Palestinian lawmaker Yehya Mousa refuted the allegations made recently by Fatah faction about his talk to the press about the Egyptian internal events and their impacts on the internal Palestinian situation.
MP Mousa stated on Tuesday that he had never given any press statement to the local radio station Al-Watan or any other media outlets about the internal events in Egypt.
He stressed that what is claimed by Fatah-affiliated websites are vicious lies and part of the systematic disinformation campaign that is launched by Fatah faction against Gaza and its resistance.
Abu Zuhri also said that the Egyptian claims about the presence of some individuals from Hamas among the Egyptian citizens who were attacked on Monday by the republican guards are unfounded lies.
The spokesman called on the Egyptian media to stop their smear campaign against Hamas and the Palestinian resistance, and their attempts to implicate the Palestinians in the Egyptian political conflict.
In a related context, Palestinian lawmaker Yehya Mousa refuted the allegations made recently by Fatah faction about his talk to the press about the Egyptian internal events and their impacts on the internal Palestinian situation.
MP Mousa stated on Tuesday that he had never given any press statement to the local radio station Al-Watan or any other media outlets about the internal events in Egypt.
He stressed that what is claimed by Fatah-affiliated websites are vicious lies and part of the systematic disinformation campaign that is launched by Fatah faction against Gaza and its resistance.
9 july 2013
Legislator Yahia Mousa, a political leader of the Hamas movement, stated that the Hamas movement and the Gaza Strip will pay a heavy price for interfering in internal Egyptian affairs, and called on his movement to reconsider its regional policies, especially with neighboring countries.
In an interview with the Wattan News Agency, on Wednesday morning, Mousa said that Hamas, as an Islamist movement, supports the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, but does not have the right to interfere in internal Egyptian affairs, but instead must act to stop the bloodshed between the supporters of the Brotherhood and their opponents.
He said that meddling into Egyptian affairs would affect the Palestinian people, especially in Gaza, and would lead to shutting down all siege-busting tunnels that have become virtually the only source of goods and supplies to the coastal region.
Mousa called on the Hamas leadership to reconsider its policies when dealing with Egypt, and to reconsider its regional relations, especially with neighboring countries that support the Palestinian people and the Hamas movement.
He said that Hamas needs to place the Palestinian interests as a top priority for its policies, and added that the Egyptian experience with Hamas during the June 25 2011 Egyptian revolution, caused concern among Egyptian leaders, and affected Hamas’ relation with various Arab nations.
“We asked the Hamas leadership to stop interfering into internal Egyptian affairs; the Egyptians are always concerned when any party does that”, Mousa said, “No Palestinian party in Gaza has the right to meddle in what is happening in Egypt, or any other Arab country, such acts negatively impact the movement and the Palestinian people”.
“Let me say it frankly: my fellow legislators, and myself, might have to stand at any given moment and say all doors have been shut in front of us, and then we must submit our resignations”, he said, “The Palestinian Legislative Council is not operating as a united body, all legislative blocs, including Fateh and Hamas, are not working together, we must make that clear to the Palestinian people”.
In an interview with the Wattan News Agency, on Wednesday morning, Mousa said that Hamas, as an Islamist movement, supports the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, but does not have the right to interfere in internal Egyptian affairs, but instead must act to stop the bloodshed between the supporters of the Brotherhood and their opponents.
He said that meddling into Egyptian affairs would affect the Palestinian people, especially in Gaza, and would lead to shutting down all siege-busting tunnels that have become virtually the only source of goods and supplies to the coastal region.
Mousa called on the Hamas leadership to reconsider its policies when dealing with Egypt, and to reconsider its regional relations, especially with neighboring countries that support the Palestinian people and the Hamas movement.
He said that Hamas needs to place the Palestinian interests as a top priority for its policies, and added that the Egyptian experience with Hamas during the June 25 2011 Egyptian revolution, caused concern among Egyptian leaders, and affected Hamas’ relation with various Arab nations.
“We asked the Hamas leadership to stop interfering into internal Egyptian affairs; the Egyptians are always concerned when any party does that”, Mousa said, “No Palestinian party in Gaza has the right to meddle in what is happening in Egypt, or any other Arab country, such acts negatively impact the movement and the Palestinian people”.
“Let me say it frankly: my fellow legislators, and myself, might have to stand at any given moment and say all doors have been shut in front of us, and then we must submit our resignations”, he said, “The Palestinian Legislative Council is not operating as a united body, all legislative blocs, including Fateh and Hamas, are not working together, we must make that clear to the Palestinian people”.
8 july 2013
At least 51 were massacred and over 500 injured among them hundreds in critical condition after the Egyptian army snipers fired at the Muslim Brotherhood protest against the military coup outside facility where the first elected Egyptian President Mohammad Morsi is held. According to Egyptian sources, Western counties built up and financed the Egyptian opposition with about Six Billion Dollars During the past year, money which was used to pay poor Egyptians and incite them to attend demonstrations against the first elected President of Egypt, Dr. Mohammad Morsi and so manipulate the public opinion and create an atmosphere conducive to bringing their agent Mohammad ElBaradei into power.
When the Revolution of 2011, which was also instigated by westerners and zionists, went wrong and they failed to install ElBaradei into power, the conspirators turned around and obviously did everything to insure that this time around, their slimy creature would be firmly installed in power in Egypt. Back in 2011 El Baradei failed to attain any position in the government despite massive efforts to insinuate him into power.
His reputation is just bad: over 60% of Egyptians do not trust El Baradei and accuse him of being an agent of the USA, zionism and western countries, what has turned out to be true, as the first thing he wants to introduce compulsive “holocaust” teaching to the Egyptian school curriculum. And even this time and despite massive expenditures and the giant show of “popular revolution”, installing El Baradei has become a rather difficult undertaking.
When the Revolution of 2011, which was also instigated by westerners and zionists, went wrong and they failed to install ElBaradei into power, the conspirators turned around and obviously did everything to insure that this time around, their slimy creature would be firmly installed in power in Egypt. Back in 2011 El Baradei failed to attain any position in the government despite massive efforts to insinuate him into power.
His reputation is just bad: over 60% of Egyptians do not trust El Baradei and accuse him of being an agent of the USA, zionism and western countries, what has turned out to be true, as the first thing he wants to introduce compulsive “holocaust” teaching to the Egyptian school curriculum. And even this time and despite massive expenditures and the giant show of “popular revolution”, installing El Baradei has become a rather difficult undertaking.
Egyptians say that the Nobel Peace Prize obtained by El Baradei does not qualify him to be in the command center of power of Egypt and his attempts only serves to put more question marks around him. Egyptians also say that zionist element and war criminal Shimon Peres has obtained the Nobel Peace Prize, but that this did not change the facts and his past, namely being a member of the Haganah terror gang which ethnically cleansed Palestine and perpetrated war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Anyone who listens to El Baradei conversations posted on Youtube in Arabic understands the wide gap between him and the Egyptian people. At a time when the Egyptians suffer of poverty and unemployment and while the Republic of Egypt can be seen as a State of illiterates as it occupies No. 3 on a list among the countries with highest prevalence of illiteracy, Mr. El Baradei speaks about non-issues such as the construction of an Institute for Buddhists in Egypt, compulsive teaching of “holocaust”, marrying Muslim women to non-Muslims, and other issues which are far away from the real issues and problems affecting the Egyptian people.
What is more, the themes which are so important to Mr El Baradei and his backers in Washington and European countries could lead to the escalation of existing- and the creation of new conflicts in the country, which is already under severe pressure due to the ill-advised “revolution” of 2011.
Today 51 Egyptians were sniped and over 500 were injured among them critical condition when supporters of President Morsi were shot at in Cairo. Is this what the Westerners want? Is this what they call “democracy”? Were the reported six billion dollars paid to the opposition in Cairo in order to murder Egyptians in their homeland only because the past elections did not help install the President who the zionists wanted?
Anyone who listens to El Baradei conversations posted on Youtube in Arabic understands the wide gap between him and the Egyptian people. At a time when the Egyptians suffer of poverty and unemployment and while the Republic of Egypt can be seen as a State of illiterates as it occupies No. 3 on a list among the countries with highest prevalence of illiteracy, Mr. El Baradei speaks about non-issues such as the construction of an Institute for Buddhists in Egypt, compulsive teaching of “holocaust”, marrying Muslim women to non-Muslims, and other issues which are far away from the real issues and problems affecting the Egyptian people.
What is more, the themes which are so important to Mr El Baradei and his backers in Washington and European countries could lead to the escalation of existing- and the creation of new conflicts in the country, which is already under severe pressure due to the ill-advised “revolution” of 2011.
Today 51 Egyptians were sniped and over 500 were injured among them critical condition when supporters of President Morsi were shot at in Cairo. Is this what the Westerners want? Is this what they call “democracy”? Were the reported six billion dollars paid to the opposition in Cairo in order to murder Egyptians in their homeland only because the past elections did not help install the President who the zionists wanted?
Hamas condemned the massacre committed at dawn Monday in front of the Presidential Guards premises in Nasr City suburb in Cairo in which more than 50 civilians were killed. The movement denounced in a statement the bloodbath that killed dozens of innocent civilians.
Hamas expressed deep pain and sorrow over the fall of those victims, extended condolences to their families and called for sparing the Egyptian people more bloodshed.
Mohammed Beltaji, a leader in the freedom and justice party the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, had said that 55 citizens were killed when the presidential guards opened fire at the peaceful demonstrators.
Hamas denounces Egypt violence
Hamas on Monday denounced an attack against supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi.
The Islamic movement expressed deep sadness and pain for the victims, Hamas official Ezzat al-Risheq wrote on his Facebook page.
He added that Hamas sent its condolences to the victims' families.
At least 42 people were killed during the attack on supporters of Mursi outside an elite army base in Cairo, a senior medical official said.
"The death toll is 42 dead and 322 wounded," Ahmed al-Ansari, the deputy head of emergency services, told AFP.
The Muslim Brotherhood, which has led pro-Mursi demonstrations, said 35 of its supporters were killed when police and troops fired at them while they were praying at dawn.
Witnesses, including Brotherhood supporters at the scene, said the army fired only tear gas and warning shots and that "thugs" in civilian clothes had carried out the deadly shooting.
Armed supporters of Mursi meanwhile seized two soldiers in Cairo, an army official said.
Both of the Egyptian soldiers, who were identified as Samir Abdallah Ali and Azzam Hazem Ali, were put in a vehicle and forced to make pro-Mursi and anti-army statements on a loudspeaker, the official said, cited by state news agency MENA.
Islamic movement denounces the killing of Egyptian peaceful demonstrators
The Islamic movement in 1948 occupied Palestine denounced the Egyptian army massacre of peaceful demonstrators in front of the presidential guards premises in Cairo on Monday. The movement said in a statement on its website that the “gangsters of the Egyptian coup leaders were stripped of their humanity when they opened live bullets at the supporters of legitimacy while praying”.
“The treacherous bullets fired at dawn today have in fact taken all fears from the heart of the free people of Egypt who are trying to restore their revolution to its right course,” it said, hoping that the incident would signal the end of the coup.
Hamas expressed deep pain and sorrow over the fall of those victims, extended condolences to their families and called for sparing the Egyptian people more bloodshed.
Mohammed Beltaji, a leader in the freedom and justice party the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, had said that 55 citizens were killed when the presidential guards opened fire at the peaceful demonstrators.
Hamas denounces Egypt violence
Hamas on Monday denounced an attack against supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi.
The Islamic movement expressed deep sadness and pain for the victims, Hamas official Ezzat al-Risheq wrote on his Facebook page.
He added that Hamas sent its condolences to the victims' families.
At least 42 people were killed during the attack on supporters of Mursi outside an elite army base in Cairo, a senior medical official said.
"The death toll is 42 dead and 322 wounded," Ahmed al-Ansari, the deputy head of emergency services, told AFP.
The Muslim Brotherhood, which has led pro-Mursi demonstrations, said 35 of its supporters were killed when police and troops fired at them while they were praying at dawn.
Witnesses, including Brotherhood supporters at the scene, said the army fired only tear gas and warning shots and that "thugs" in civilian clothes had carried out the deadly shooting.
Armed supporters of Mursi meanwhile seized two soldiers in Cairo, an army official said.
Both of the Egyptian soldiers, who were identified as Samir Abdallah Ali and Azzam Hazem Ali, were put in a vehicle and forced to make pro-Mursi and anti-army statements on a loudspeaker, the official said, cited by state news agency MENA.
Islamic movement denounces the killing of Egyptian peaceful demonstrators
The Islamic movement in 1948 occupied Palestine denounced the Egyptian army massacre of peaceful demonstrators in front of the presidential guards premises in Cairo on Monday. The movement said in a statement on its website that the “gangsters of the Egyptian coup leaders were stripped of their humanity when they opened live bullets at the supporters of legitimacy while praying”.
“The treacherous bullets fired at dawn today have in fact taken all fears from the heart of the free people of Egypt who are trying to restore their revolution to its right course,” it said, hoping that the incident would signal the end of the coup.
Dr. Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman, has denied press allegations that his movement had issued a statement on the current events in Egypt. Abu Zuhri said in a statement on Sunday that what the Egyptian media had published as a statement for Hamas commenting on the situation in Egypt was not issued by the movement.
Gaza premier and Hamas leader Ismail Haneyya had said that Egypt was and would remain the important depth for the Palestinian cause and added that his government was following up what is going on in Egypt.
Gaza premier and Hamas leader Ismail Haneyya had said that Egypt was and would remain the important depth for the Palestinian cause and added that his government was following up what is going on in Egypt.
7 july 2013
A pipeline delivering gas from Egypt to Israel burns following an attack on September 27, 2011, near the town of al-Arish in the northern Sinai.
A section of an Egyptian pipeline supplying gas to Israel and Jordan has been blown up in the Lehfin area south of the city of al-Arish in the Sinai Peninsula.
The attack on the gas pipeline occurred early on Sunday on two points on the pipeline and started fires, according to Egyptian officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The fires were extinguished, but the flow of gas was disrupted, they added.
No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The pipeline was attacked several times in 2011 and 2012, but this was the first time the energy link was attacked this year.
According to the results of an opinion poll conducted by Synovate for Press TV and published in October 2011, an overwhelming majority of Egyptians oppose the terms of the country's gas deal with Israel.
In the poll, seventy-three percent of the respondents said they were opposed to gas exports to Israel. Only 9 percent said they approved of Egypt supplying gas to Israel, and 12 percent had no opinion.
The issue of supplying gas to Israel has always been a contentious topic for Egyptians, who view Israel as an enemy and oppose engaging in any form of business with it.
Egypt had to agree to supply gas to Israel as one of the main economic conditions of the US-sponsored 1979 peace treaty between the two sides.
According to a $2.5 billion export deal with Tel Aviv signed in 2005, Israel receives around 40 percent of its gas supply from Egypt at an extremely low price.
A section of an Egyptian pipeline supplying gas to Israel and Jordan has been blown up in the Lehfin area south of the city of al-Arish in the Sinai Peninsula.
The attack on the gas pipeline occurred early on Sunday on two points on the pipeline and started fires, according to Egyptian officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The fires were extinguished, but the flow of gas was disrupted, they added.
No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The pipeline was attacked several times in 2011 and 2012, but this was the first time the energy link was attacked this year.
According to the results of an opinion poll conducted by Synovate for Press TV and published in October 2011, an overwhelming majority of Egyptians oppose the terms of the country's gas deal with Israel.
In the poll, seventy-three percent of the respondents said they were opposed to gas exports to Israel. Only 9 percent said they approved of Egypt supplying gas to Israel, and 12 percent had no opinion.
The issue of supplying gas to Israel has always been a contentious topic for Egyptians, who view Israel as an enemy and oppose engaging in any form of business with it.
Egypt had to agree to supply gas to Israel as one of the main economic conditions of the US-sponsored 1979 peace treaty between the two sides.
According to a $2.5 billion export deal with Tel Aviv signed in 2005, Israel receives around 40 percent of its gas supply from Egypt at an extremely low price.
6 july 2013
Israeli Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovich
An Israeli minister has urged maintaining friendly relations with Egypt following the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi by the Egyptian military.
"It is really important for Israel to keep Egypt as its friend and to maintain a peaceful border," Israeli Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovich said on Saturday.
He also said that Tel Aviv’s intelligence sources had good cooperation with Egypt under Morsi.
Earlier, former Israeli minister of military affairs, Gabi Ashkenazi, downplayed the developments in Egypt, saying Morsi's ouster did not pose any immediate danger to Tel Aviv.
"I think the Egyptian army is too busy [with domestic issues] to deal with anything that is outside of Egypt, so I don't think there's any danger at the moment," he said.
He also said the Morsi government was "reasonable" in its ties with Tel Aviv as it did not renege on the Camp David Accords and launched a crackdown on underground supply tunnels between the Sinai Peninsula and the blockaded Gaza Strip.
On July 3, the Egyptian Army ousted Morsi and suspended the country's constitution.
The army announced new parliamentary elections and declared the head of Supreme Constitutional Court, Adly Mansour, as the interim president of Egypt.
Israel, which signed a peace accord with Egypt in 1979, has refused to comment on the crisis in North African country.
An Israeli minister has urged maintaining friendly relations with Egypt following the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi by the Egyptian military.
"It is really important for Israel to keep Egypt as its friend and to maintain a peaceful border," Israeli Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovich said on Saturday.
He also said that Tel Aviv’s intelligence sources had good cooperation with Egypt under Morsi.
Earlier, former Israeli minister of military affairs, Gabi Ashkenazi, downplayed the developments in Egypt, saying Morsi's ouster did not pose any immediate danger to Tel Aviv.
"I think the Egyptian army is too busy [with domestic issues] to deal with anything that is outside of Egypt, so I don't think there's any danger at the moment," he said.
He also said the Morsi government was "reasonable" in its ties with Tel Aviv as it did not renege on the Camp David Accords and launched a crackdown on underground supply tunnels between the Sinai Peninsula and the blockaded Gaza Strip.
On July 3, the Egyptian Army ousted Morsi and suspended the country's constitution.
The army announced new parliamentary elections and declared the head of Supreme Constitutional Court, Adly Mansour, as the interim president of Egypt.
Israel, which signed a peace accord with Egypt in 1979, has refused to comment on the crisis in North African country.
ElBaradei is former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency
Liberal leader Mohamed ElBaradei has been chosen as Egypt's new prime minister, the Tamarod campaign behind protests that toppled Islamist president Mohamed Mursi said on Saturday after talks with the country's interim president.
A military source confirmed that the former head of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency was to be sworn in as premier later on Saturday, three days after the army overthrew Mursi.
The official MENA news agency said ElBaradei was in talks with interim president Adly Mansour.
Tamarod, Arabic for Rebellion, had nominated ElBaradei to represent the grassroots movement in transitional negotiations with the military.
ElBaradei, who won the Nobel peace prize in 2005 for his work with the IAEA, returned to Egypt in 2010 and became a prominent opponent of veteran strongman Hosni Mubarak in the lead-up to the 2011 uprising that overthrew him.
Aya Hosni, a member of Tamarod's central committee, said that "the interim president and Tamarod had agreed on Mohamed ElBaradei's nomination as prime minister".
She said former interior minister Ahmed Gamal El-Din would be in charge of security affairs and economist Ahmed al-Naggar would be the new finance minister.
On Wednesday, army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had outlined the roadmap for the transition, which included suspending the constitution and forming a government of technocrats before preparing for parliamentary and presidential elections.
Muslim Brotherhood rejects ElBaradei as interim premier
A senior member of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood has rejected the appointment of prominent opposition figure, Mohamed ElBaradei, as Egypt’s new prime minister.
"We reject this coup and all that results from it, including ElBaradei," an unnamed official in the Freedom and Justice Party, the Muslim Brotherhood's political wing, said on Saturday.
ElBaradei was scheduled to be sworn in as the interim prime minister later on Saturday, three days after the Egyptian army overthrew Mohamed Morsi.
"ElBaradei will take an oath as prime minister in front of President Adly Mansour at 8 p.m. local time (1800 GMT)," al-Dostour Party, which is chaired by the former UN nuclear chief, announced.
Meanwhile, Egyptian Health Ministry has announced that at least three dozen people were killed and hundreds other injured after Morsi’s supporters staged mass rallies against his ouster.
Mohammad Sultan, deputy head of Egypt’s ambulance authority, said in a statement on Saturday that at least 36 people were killed and over 1,100 more wounded in the violence across the North African country on Friday.
The casualties came after skirmishes and violent clashes broke out in the capital city of Cairo, Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast, and the Sinai Peninsula.
On July 3, Egypt's army chief ousted Morsi and suspended the country's constitution.
General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said new parliamentary elections will be held, and declared head of Supreme Constitutional Court Adly Mansour as the caretaker leader.
Liberal leader Mohamed ElBaradei has been chosen as Egypt's new prime minister, the Tamarod campaign behind protests that toppled Islamist president Mohamed Mursi said on Saturday after talks with the country's interim president.
A military source confirmed that the former head of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency was to be sworn in as premier later on Saturday, three days after the army overthrew Mursi.
The official MENA news agency said ElBaradei was in talks with interim president Adly Mansour.
Tamarod, Arabic for Rebellion, had nominated ElBaradei to represent the grassroots movement in transitional negotiations with the military.
ElBaradei, who won the Nobel peace prize in 2005 for his work with the IAEA, returned to Egypt in 2010 and became a prominent opponent of veteran strongman Hosni Mubarak in the lead-up to the 2011 uprising that overthrew him.
Aya Hosni, a member of Tamarod's central committee, said that "the interim president and Tamarod had agreed on Mohamed ElBaradei's nomination as prime minister".
She said former interior minister Ahmed Gamal El-Din would be in charge of security affairs and economist Ahmed al-Naggar would be the new finance minister.
On Wednesday, army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had outlined the roadmap for the transition, which included suspending the constitution and forming a government of technocrats before preparing for parliamentary and presidential elections.
Muslim Brotherhood rejects ElBaradei as interim premier
A senior member of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood has rejected the appointment of prominent opposition figure, Mohamed ElBaradei, as Egypt’s new prime minister.
"We reject this coup and all that results from it, including ElBaradei," an unnamed official in the Freedom and Justice Party, the Muslim Brotherhood's political wing, said on Saturday.
ElBaradei was scheduled to be sworn in as the interim prime minister later on Saturday, three days after the Egyptian army overthrew Mohamed Morsi.
"ElBaradei will take an oath as prime minister in front of President Adly Mansour at 8 p.m. local time (1800 GMT)," al-Dostour Party, which is chaired by the former UN nuclear chief, announced.
Meanwhile, Egyptian Health Ministry has announced that at least three dozen people were killed and hundreds other injured after Morsi’s supporters staged mass rallies against his ouster.
Mohammad Sultan, deputy head of Egypt’s ambulance authority, said in a statement on Saturday that at least 36 people were killed and over 1,100 more wounded in the violence across the North African country on Friday.
The casualties came after skirmishes and violent clashes broke out in the capital city of Cairo, Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast, and the Sinai Peninsula.
On July 3, Egypt's army chief ousted Morsi and suspended the country's constitution.
General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said new parliamentary elections will be held, and declared head of Supreme Constitutional Court Adly Mansour as the caretaker leader.
National and Islamic forces in the Gaza Strip held a meeting on Saturday to discuss the internal Palestinian situation, especially with regard to the end of the division and restoration of national unity. The factions stressed the need to accelerate the implementation of the reconciliation agreement, in light of the threats to the national cause and to the rights of the Palestinian people.
A statement issued by the conferees stated that the forces discussed the developments in the Arab Republic of Egypt, and stressed their great concern about the stability, security and unity of the Egyptian people and their national soil. They also called for adopting all democratic means to deal with internal differences in order to stop the bloodshed.
National and Islamic forces underlined that the Palestinian people will never be part in the Egyptian internal conflicts and political disputes.
They demanded the Egyptian authorities not to drag the Gaza Strip in the Egyptian internal affairs as this would affect the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which has already started to suffer from a crisis that may get worse.
A statement issued by the conferees stated that the forces discussed the developments in the Arab Republic of Egypt, and stressed their great concern about the stability, security and unity of the Egyptian people and their national soil. They also called for adopting all democratic means to deal with internal differences in order to stop the bloodshed.
National and Islamic forces underlined that the Palestinian people will never be part in the Egyptian internal conflicts and political disputes.
They demanded the Egyptian authorities not to drag the Gaza Strip in the Egyptian internal affairs as this would affect the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which has already started to suffer from a crisis that may get worse.
Israeli Likud Knesset member Tzachi Hanegbi declared on Friday that the Israeli interest requires an Egyptian authority that has good relationship with the US administration. The Israeli MK stated that Israel is eager to have neighboring Egypt stable, but close to the USA and away from religious ideology.
Hanegbi said on Friday that the military coup carried out by the Egyptian army in Egypt was good news for Israel.
Several Israeli analysts noted that Israeli authorities have expressed satisfaction with the Egyptian military coup that ousted the Egyptian freely elected President Mohamed Morsi.
Meanwhile, Israeli security officials have grown increasingly anxious about the security situation in Sinai after the Egyptian military coup.
Hanegbi said on Friday that the military coup carried out by the Egyptian army in Egypt was good news for Israel.
Several Israeli analysts noted that Israeli authorities have expressed satisfaction with the Egyptian military coup that ousted the Egyptian freely elected President Mohamed Morsi.
Meanwhile, Israeli security officials have grown increasingly anxious about the security situation in Sinai after the Egyptian military coup.
5 july 2013
Gaza Prime Minister Ismael Haniyeh said Friday that his government was carefully observing events in the Arab world, but added that the resistance and people of Gaza had little to fear.
"We are a part of our community; we affect and are affected by it," Haniyeh said at a Friday prayer service.
"We have reiterated that the Palestinian issue is an Arab, Islamic, and humanitarian issue. We observe what is happening out of concern for the unity and well-being of our community."
He also said: "We believe good will emerge from this Arab Spring, these revolutions and this rebirth. We expect the Arab Spring cycle to continue until its objectives are attained, including our own cause."
Haniyeh's political adviser Yussef Rizq on Thursday criticized on his Facebook page the ouster of Mursi, Egypt's first democratically elected president.
"What happened in Egypt, his eviction and removal of power, is not part of a genuine democratic process, because they used military force and not the voice of the people through elections," Rizq said.
Hamas has not officially reacted to Mursi's removal whose election it feted in June 2012 as he hails from the Muslim Brotherhood, to which the Islamist movement is affiliated.
Under Mursi, as well as former Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak, Egypt promoted reconciliation efforts between President Mahmuod Abbas's Fatah movement which governs the West Bank and Hamas which rules the Gaza Strip.
"We are a part of our community; we affect and are affected by it," Haniyeh said at a Friday prayer service.
"We have reiterated that the Palestinian issue is an Arab, Islamic, and humanitarian issue. We observe what is happening out of concern for the unity and well-being of our community."
He also said: "We believe good will emerge from this Arab Spring, these revolutions and this rebirth. We expect the Arab Spring cycle to continue until its objectives are attained, including our own cause."
Haniyeh's political adviser Yussef Rizq on Thursday criticized on his Facebook page the ouster of Mursi, Egypt's first democratically elected president.
"What happened in Egypt, his eviction and removal of power, is not part of a genuine democratic process, because they used military force and not the voice of the people through elections," Rizq said.
Hamas has not officially reacted to Mursi's removal whose election it feted in June 2012 as he hails from the Muslim Brotherhood, to which the Islamist movement is affiliated.
Under Mursi, as well as former Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak, Egypt promoted reconciliation efforts between President Mahmuod Abbas's Fatah movement which governs the West Bank and Hamas which rules the Gaza Strip.
Israel has sent an official envoy to Cairo on Thursday to conduct several meetings for security cooperation in light of the Egyptian recent developments, Yediot Ahronot Hebrew newspaper revealed on Friday. The paper wrote that few hours after the military coup in Egypt, Israel sent an envoy to Egypt to meet with senior officials in the Egyptian security and intelligence services.
Israel has kept from commenting publicly on its neighbor’s turmoil, but early Thursday dispatched an unnamed official to Cairo to make contact with senior intelligence officials, Yedioth Ahronot reported Friday.
While relations with Egypt were officially icy while Morsi was in power, behind the scenes, officials say security coordination between the countries was good, the paper added
"Israel is reportedly coordinating an Egyptian security buildup in the Sinai, designed to keep Gazan and Bedouin militants from exploiting the chaos of the political transition to smuggle arms into Gaza or carry out attacks against Israeli or Egyptian targets."
The paper quoted an Egyptian senior security official as saying that Cairo and Tel Aviv are preparing to thwart any possible response from the" Muslim Brotherhood" and Hamas military wing following the isolation of Morsi.
Israeli and Egyptian senior security officials have also warned against any possible Iranian response in Sinai in order to create a new Islamic reality in the region.
Israel has kept from commenting publicly on its neighbor’s turmoil, but early Thursday dispatched an unnamed official to Cairo to make contact with senior intelligence officials, Yedioth Ahronot reported Friday.
While relations with Egypt were officially icy while Morsi was in power, behind the scenes, officials say security coordination between the countries was good, the paper added
"Israel is reportedly coordinating an Egyptian security buildup in the Sinai, designed to keep Gazan and Bedouin militants from exploiting the chaos of the political transition to smuggle arms into Gaza or carry out attacks against Israeli or Egyptian targets."
The paper quoted an Egyptian senior security official as saying that Cairo and Tel Aviv are preparing to thwart any possible response from the" Muslim Brotherhood" and Hamas military wing following the isolation of Morsi.
Israeli and Egyptian senior security officials have also warned against any possible Iranian response in Sinai in order to create a new Islamic reality in the region.
The Egyptian forces reinforced their presence on the borders with Gaza, where they brought more tanks. Eyewitnesses said that the Egyptian army brought more tanks and troops along the Egypt-Gaza borders which stretch 14 kilometers, and added they saw Egyptian armed forces on the roofs of a number of buildings.
For their part, Palestinian security forces in large numbers have been deployed along the borders.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian security forces have closed the tunnels between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, used for the smuggling of essential goods and fuel to the besieged Strip.
Informed sources confirmed that the Egyptian army launched a campaign to demolish the tunnels built under the Egyptian-Palestinian borders.
The sources told PIC's correspondent that Egyptian tanks and armored vehicles have been intensively deployed on the borders, amid a campaign that included the destruction of many tunnels that have been closed for several days due to the recent developments in Egypt.
For their part, Palestinian security forces in large numbers have been deployed along the borders.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian security forces have closed the tunnels between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, used for the smuggling of essential goods and fuel to the besieged Strip.
Informed sources confirmed that the Egyptian army launched a campaign to demolish the tunnels built under the Egyptian-Palestinian borders.
The sources told PIC's correspondent that Egyptian tanks and armored vehicles have been intensively deployed on the borders, amid a campaign that included the destruction of many tunnels that have been closed for several days due to the recent developments in Egypt.
4 july 2013
By Khalid Amayreh
As widely expected, the Egyptian military has carried out a quiet coup against the democratically-elected President, Dr. Muhammed Mursi. The coup followed widespread demonstrations against the President organized mainly by supporters of former President Husni Mubarak, followers of the Coptic Church and disgruntled youths disillusioned by Mursi's slow pace of reform.
Following the coup, there was a state of euphoria within the anti-Islamist camp. However this euphoria is likely to be misguided and short lasting.
Egypt is reeling under a host of chronic problems in every conceivable sphere, so much that some serious pundits are now speaking of the country as a failed state.
We hope and pray that Egypt will never be doomed to the status of a failed state. However, the latest coup, no matter how popular it may be in some quarters, is bad news for democracy, and bad news for Egypt. Egypt after the coup will be more dictatorial, less democratic, more unstable and much poorer than it already is.
Military governments, whether in Egypt or elsewhere, have always been a big failure. The Egyptian military effectively ruined the country during its brief administration of the country following Mubarak's ouster. For example, the foreign currency reserves plummeted from $36 b. to $12. In short, military rules, whether direct or behind the curtain, will only bring more disasters to a country already beset by all sorts of problems.
Ever since the Free Officer's revolt in 1952, Egypt has always been ruled by military governments or people hailing from the military. This is of course with the exception of the one-year hiatus of President Mursi.
This constant military dictatorship is the main reason for the striking political, economic backwardness prevailing in the country. It is also the main reason for the rampant and chronic corruption permeating through Egypt.
Egypt and South Korea were at the same socio-economic level 60 years ago. Now, South Korea is an economic superpower while Egypt is still having real problems feeding its 90 million mouths.
The vociferous protests against president Mursi would give us the impression that the Islamist president was responsible for all Egypt's problems since the overthrow of King Farouk 61 years ago,
But this is a false impression to say the least. Mursi was elected to lead a dilapidated country. His efforts to heal the many ills of Egypt didn't always succeed. Even the best possible government wouldn't have performed better.
Moreover, Mursi was plagued with a determined, intransigent and unethical opposition to his rule. Not a single day during his 365 days in "power" passed without protests and demonstrations. Most of these protests were motivated by ideological enmity to the president and his Islamist party, not real grievances.
He was called Nazi, and the headquarters and offices of his party were torched in full view of security forces who looked on passively if not approvingly. Thugs paid by pillars of the previous regime were unleashed to rape and murder people and then blame it on the Islamists.
Hitler destroyed Europe and killed or caused the death of 60 million people. Hence, making such wild comparisons is no less than committing an act of lewdness with truth, facts and history.
Mursi tried to sow the seed of democracy in a society and country that had never known democracy in its long history of 7000 years. His people simply didn't know the difference between freedom and anarchy. For a variety of reasons, many of them hated the President and his party more than they loved Egypt or even their country.
It is likely though that the new military regime will have its way for the time being. But it is only a matter of time before multitudinous protests and demonstrations swell the streets of Cairo and other Egyptian towns once again, but this time not against the Ikhwan and Mursi, but rather against the military.
I am not a prophet of doom and gloom, but military regimes have consistently proven themselves a gigantic disaster. There is no reason whatsoever to expect Sissi and his cohorts to be any different.
Finally, a word to the President Mursi and the Muslim Brotherhood. You were elected to rule Egypt at the wrong moment when you, just out of the old regime's prisons and dungeons, were not ready, or more correctly unable to tackle the mountains of problems plaguing the country and in such a short time. And Egypt , with all its corruption, poverty, and the "deep state" of the old regime, along with a vehemently hostile and pornographically mendacious media, was not ready for you.
You tried to the best of your ability, and whether you succeeded or failed should be left to history.
Now, the wisest thing to do is to bow before the storm. I know the Islamists or most of them are peaceable, calculating and wise, people who won't be provoked into doing the wrong thing.
But bowing before the storm doesn't mean passivity or indifference. So, get organized and be ready for the second round. Whether we succeed or not, all our efforts are after all for the sake of the Almighty.
As widely expected, the Egyptian military has carried out a quiet coup against the democratically-elected President, Dr. Muhammed Mursi. The coup followed widespread demonstrations against the President organized mainly by supporters of former President Husni Mubarak, followers of the Coptic Church and disgruntled youths disillusioned by Mursi's slow pace of reform.
Following the coup, there was a state of euphoria within the anti-Islamist camp. However this euphoria is likely to be misguided and short lasting.
Egypt is reeling under a host of chronic problems in every conceivable sphere, so much that some serious pundits are now speaking of the country as a failed state.
We hope and pray that Egypt will never be doomed to the status of a failed state. However, the latest coup, no matter how popular it may be in some quarters, is bad news for democracy, and bad news for Egypt. Egypt after the coup will be more dictatorial, less democratic, more unstable and much poorer than it already is.
Military governments, whether in Egypt or elsewhere, have always been a big failure. The Egyptian military effectively ruined the country during its brief administration of the country following Mubarak's ouster. For example, the foreign currency reserves plummeted from $36 b. to $12. In short, military rules, whether direct or behind the curtain, will only bring more disasters to a country already beset by all sorts of problems.
Ever since the Free Officer's revolt in 1952, Egypt has always been ruled by military governments or people hailing from the military. This is of course with the exception of the one-year hiatus of President Mursi.
This constant military dictatorship is the main reason for the striking political, economic backwardness prevailing in the country. It is also the main reason for the rampant and chronic corruption permeating through Egypt.
Egypt and South Korea were at the same socio-economic level 60 years ago. Now, South Korea is an economic superpower while Egypt is still having real problems feeding its 90 million mouths.
The vociferous protests against president Mursi would give us the impression that the Islamist president was responsible for all Egypt's problems since the overthrow of King Farouk 61 years ago,
But this is a false impression to say the least. Mursi was elected to lead a dilapidated country. His efforts to heal the many ills of Egypt didn't always succeed. Even the best possible government wouldn't have performed better.
Moreover, Mursi was plagued with a determined, intransigent and unethical opposition to his rule. Not a single day during his 365 days in "power" passed without protests and demonstrations. Most of these protests were motivated by ideological enmity to the president and his Islamist party, not real grievances.
He was called Nazi, and the headquarters and offices of his party were torched in full view of security forces who looked on passively if not approvingly. Thugs paid by pillars of the previous regime were unleashed to rape and murder people and then blame it on the Islamists.
Hitler destroyed Europe and killed or caused the death of 60 million people. Hence, making such wild comparisons is no less than committing an act of lewdness with truth, facts and history.
Mursi tried to sow the seed of democracy in a society and country that had never known democracy in its long history of 7000 years. His people simply didn't know the difference between freedom and anarchy. For a variety of reasons, many of them hated the President and his party more than they loved Egypt or even their country.
It is likely though that the new military regime will have its way for the time being. But it is only a matter of time before multitudinous protests and demonstrations swell the streets of Cairo and other Egyptian towns once again, but this time not against the Ikhwan and Mursi, but rather against the military.
I am not a prophet of doom and gloom, but military regimes have consistently proven themselves a gigantic disaster. There is no reason whatsoever to expect Sissi and his cohorts to be any different.
Finally, a word to the President Mursi and the Muslim Brotherhood. You were elected to rule Egypt at the wrong moment when you, just out of the old regime's prisons and dungeons, were not ready, or more correctly unable to tackle the mountains of problems plaguing the country and in such a short time. And Egypt , with all its corruption, poverty, and the "deep state" of the old regime, along with a vehemently hostile and pornographically mendacious media, was not ready for you.
You tried to the best of your ability, and whether you succeeded or failed should be left to history.
Now, the wisest thing to do is to bow before the storm. I know the Islamists or most of them are peaceable, calculating and wise, people who won't be provoked into doing the wrong thing.
But bowing before the storm doesn't mean passivity or indifference. So, get organized and be ready for the second round. Whether we succeed or not, all our efforts are after all for the sake of the Almighty.
Egyptian army armored personnel carriers (APC) are seen stationed on the road leading to Cairo University where Muslim Brotherhood and ousted president Mohammed Morsi's supporters are camped, on July 4, 2013
The Israeli regime is worried that Washington’s plan to cut aid to Egypt in the wake of the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi could endanger the Israel-Egypt peace treaty, a report says.
The Tel Aviv regime fears that the US government would suspends the annual military aid of USD 1.3 billion to Egypt after the Egyptian Army overthrew Morsi’s government, Israeli daily Globes reported on Thursday.
The paper quoted US sources as saying that Israel might ask the US administration to find a way to continue supplying aid to Egypt.
US President Barack Obama said on Wednesday that he was “deeply concerned” by the military removal of Morsi. Obama said he ordered the government to review the American aid to Egypt.
Under the US law, the government has to suspend foreign aid to any country whose elected leader is toppled in a coup. Obama has so far stopped short of describing the events in Egypt as a coup.
The American sources also told the Israeli paper that maintaining the peace treaty was one of the pillars of the collapsed government of Morsi.
“The US Congress, which controls the purse strings, was suspicious, and even hostile, to Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood government. Its agreement, albeit with gritted teeth, to keep the peace treaty with Israel, was one of the main reasons why the pro-Israeli Congress agreed to continue aid to Egypt after the fall of President Hosni Mubarak in 2011,” the paper also said.
The sources also said that the Tel Aviv regime hoped that the US would understand the importance of the treaty and continue its aid to Egypt.
General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the head of Egypt’s Army, announced late Wednesday that President Morsi was no longer in office. He declared Head of Supreme Constitutional Court Adli Mansour as the interim president.
Morsi’s ouster came after days of massive anti-government protests plunged the country into chaos.
The Israeli regime is worried that Washington’s plan to cut aid to Egypt in the wake of the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi could endanger the Israel-Egypt peace treaty, a report says.
The Tel Aviv regime fears that the US government would suspends the annual military aid of USD 1.3 billion to Egypt after the Egyptian Army overthrew Morsi’s government, Israeli daily Globes reported on Thursday.
The paper quoted US sources as saying that Israel might ask the US administration to find a way to continue supplying aid to Egypt.
US President Barack Obama said on Wednesday that he was “deeply concerned” by the military removal of Morsi. Obama said he ordered the government to review the American aid to Egypt.
Under the US law, the government has to suspend foreign aid to any country whose elected leader is toppled in a coup. Obama has so far stopped short of describing the events in Egypt as a coup.
The American sources also told the Israeli paper that maintaining the peace treaty was one of the pillars of the collapsed government of Morsi.
“The US Congress, which controls the purse strings, was suspicious, and even hostile, to Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood government. Its agreement, albeit with gritted teeth, to keep the peace treaty with Israel, was one of the main reasons why the pro-Israeli Congress agreed to continue aid to Egypt after the fall of President Hosni Mubarak in 2011,” the paper also said.
The sources also said that the Tel Aviv regime hoped that the US would understand the importance of the treaty and continue its aid to Egypt.
General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the head of Egypt’s Army, announced late Wednesday that President Morsi was no longer in office. He declared Head of Supreme Constitutional Court Adli Mansour as the interim president.
Morsi’s ouster came after days of massive anti-government protests plunged the country into chaos.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas congratulated on Thursday, Adly Mansour on his appointment as Egyptian interim president.
"In my own name and on behalf of the Palestinian people and their leadership, I congratulate you on assuming the leadership of Egypt at this transitional point of its history," Abbas said in a letter, " I appeal to God to help you to shoulder the responsibility in this critical period to achieve the hopes of the brotherly Egyptian People in achieving freedom, dignity and stability."
Abbas praised the role of the Egyptian armed forces and their leader General Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, in preserving security in Egypt. He also praised the role of the Egyptian people for their revolution.
It's worth mentioning that Mansour was sworn in as interim president of Egypt on Thursday, a day after the military overthrew Mohamed Mursi following a week of massive protests.
"In my own name and on behalf of the Palestinian people and their leadership, I congratulate you on assuming the leadership of Egypt at this transitional point of its history," Abbas said in a letter, " I appeal to God to help you to shoulder the responsibility in this critical period to achieve the hopes of the brotherly Egyptian People in achieving freedom, dignity and stability."
Abbas praised the role of the Egyptian armed forces and their leader General Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, in preserving security in Egypt. He also praised the role of the Egyptian people for their revolution.
It's worth mentioning that Mansour was sworn in as interim president of Egypt on Thursday, a day after the military overthrew Mohamed Mursi following a week of massive protests.
Egypt's chief justice Adly Mansour pauses during his swearing-in ceremony in Cairo, on July 4.
Egypt's chief justice Adly Mansour was sworn in as the country's interim president on Thursday, a day after the military ousted and detained Mohamed Mursi following days of massive protests.
"I swear to preserve the system of the republic, and respect the constitution and law, and guard the people's interests," Mansour said as he took the oath of office at a ceremony in the Supreme Constitutional Court.
Officials welcomed the declaration with a warm round of applause.
Mansour went on to pay tribute to the Egyptian people, media, the military and the police force.
"A salute to the Egyptian people for correcting on June 30 the path of this glorious revolution," he said in reference to protests that saw millions take to the streets on the anniversary of Mursi's first turbulent year in power.
The nationwide protests "proved to the world" the determination of Egyptians in the face of adversity, said Mansour.
The 67-year-old praised the armed forces for having "always been the conscience of the nation" and "not hesitating for a moment to meet the call of the nation and people".
Mansour also described the Egyptian media as a "courageous free beacon that lit the way for the people and unveiled the misdeeds of the former regime".
The swearing-in ceremony, which was broadcast live on national television, came after the military swept aside Mursi on Wednesday, a little more than a year after the Islamist leader took office.
A senior military officer told AFP the army was now "preventively" holding Mursi.
The ousted president's government unraveled after the army gave him a 48-hour ultimatum in the wake of massive demonstrations against him on the June 30 anniversary of his maiden year in office.
Egypt's chief justice Adly Mansour was sworn in as the country's interim president on Thursday, a day after the military ousted and detained Mohamed Mursi following days of massive protests.
"I swear to preserve the system of the republic, and respect the constitution and law, and guard the people's interests," Mansour said as he took the oath of office at a ceremony in the Supreme Constitutional Court.
Officials welcomed the declaration with a warm round of applause.
Mansour went on to pay tribute to the Egyptian people, media, the military and the police force.
"A salute to the Egyptian people for correcting on June 30 the path of this glorious revolution," he said in reference to protests that saw millions take to the streets on the anniversary of Mursi's first turbulent year in power.
The nationwide protests "proved to the world" the determination of Egyptians in the face of adversity, said Mansour.
The 67-year-old praised the armed forces for having "always been the conscience of the nation" and "not hesitating for a moment to meet the call of the nation and people".
Mansour also described the Egyptian media as a "courageous free beacon that lit the way for the people and unveiled the misdeeds of the former regime".
The swearing-in ceremony, which was broadcast live on national television, came after the military swept aside Mursi on Wednesday, a little more than a year after the Islamist leader took office.
A senior military officer told AFP the army was now "preventively" holding Mursi.
The ousted president's government unraveled after the army gave him a 48-hour ultimatum in the wake of massive demonstrations against him on the June 30 anniversary of his maiden year in office.
Only a Few hours after the Egyptians managed to get their elected president, Mohammad Morsi, to leave amidst massive protests of millions, Israeli security leaders expressed worry that the honeymoon era with Egypt is over.
Senior security and political leaders in Tel Aviv lamented what they call an era of “good security cooperation" with the Egyptian president, and his Islamist government.
They fear that having their good friend removed from office, would boost the power of what they called “Jihadist groups” that might be planning to attack Israel.
Millions and Millions of Egyptians took off to the streets of Cairo, as well as many other areas, not in support of “Jihadist groups”, but to express their will, their demand to remove Mohammad Morsi from power due to his shortcomings, his rulings and decisions that seemed to be heading for a one-man rule, a new dictatorship of a different type than Mubarak’s.
Israel’s leaders are lamenting the Morsi era, though short, but loaded with advanced security coordination, but are still refraining from making clear statements, and are only saying that Israel needs to monitor the situation “and hope for the best”.
The current uncertainty, and the worried statements, or the lack of statements by Tel Aviv, focused on a number of vital issues to the Israeli government, mainly the increase of Egyptian army deployment across the border, and the future of the extensive Egyptian activities against the tunnels with Gaza.
They are worried about what they called “Hamas militants” crossing into Egypt via the tunnels, and the smuggling of arms into Gaza, especially amidst the current developments in Cairo.
The officials are also worried about the current instability in Egypt and its effects on the situation in Sinai where armed groups operate and smuggle weapons.
They fear this situation would lead to a significant increase of attacks not only against Israel, but also against the Egyptian military.
Morsi did not only shut down and destroyed siege-busting tunnels across the border with Gaza; he flooded them with waste-water, gassed them, and detonated them.
Of course, the Egyptians realize the danger of certain extremist, heavily armed elements; they did not remove former president, Hosni Mubarak, to replace one dictator with another. And they did not rebel against Morsi to replace him with an extremist.
They are seeking their ultimate goal of real liberation, real democracy and equality.
The Egyptians removed a one-man rule, a dictator, to live in dignity, not to be ruled by another form of dictatorship.
They realize the real challenges, and possibly dangers looming ahead.
The people of Egypt said their word, expressed their demands loud and clear, and those who do not listen to the will of their people, will be removed by the power of the very same people.
Power that did not resort to arms, but a power of will, determination and a clear message against any form of rule that does not listen to them.
They are, and should be, a reminder to every leader, that the people are the work force, are the determining factor, the people refuse to live under oppression, the legitimacy of any president comes from his people, and when the people ask the president to leave, he must step down, instead of hinting to certain armed groups to retaliate.
Senior security and political leaders in Tel Aviv lamented what they call an era of “good security cooperation" with the Egyptian president, and his Islamist government.
They fear that having their good friend removed from office, would boost the power of what they called “Jihadist groups” that might be planning to attack Israel.
Millions and Millions of Egyptians took off to the streets of Cairo, as well as many other areas, not in support of “Jihadist groups”, but to express their will, their demand to remove Mohammad Morsi from power due to his shortcomings, his rulings and decisions that seemed to be heading for a one-man rule, a new dictatorship of a different type than Mubarak’s.
Israel’s leaders are lamenting the Morsi era, though short, but loaded with advanced security coordination, but are still refraining from making clear statements, and are only saying that Israel needs to monitor the situation “and hope for the best”.
The current uncertainty, and the worried statements, or the lack of statements by Tel Aviv, focused on a number of vital issues to the Israeli government, mainly the increase of Egyptian army deployment across the border, and the future of the extensive Egyptian activities against the tunnels with Gaza.
They are worried about what they called “Hamas militants” crossing into Egypt via the tunnels, and the smuggling of arms into Gaza, especially amidst the current developments in Cairo.
The officials are also worried about the current instability in Egypt and its effects on the situation in Sinai where armed groups operate and smuggle weapons.
They fear this situation would lead to a significant increase of attacks not only against Israel, but also against the Egyptian military.
Morsi did not only shut down and destroyed siege-busting tunnels across the border with Gaza; he flooded them with waste-water, gassed them, and detonated them.
Of course, the Egyptians realize the danger of certain extremist, heavily armed elements; they did not remove former president, Hosni Mubarak, to replace one dictator with another. And they did not rebel against Morsi to replace him with an extremist.
They are seeking their ultimate goal of real liberation, real democracy and equality.
The Egyptians removed a one-man rule, a dictator, to live in dignity, not to be ruled by another form of dictatorship.
They realize the real challenges, and possibly dangers looming ahead.
The people of Egypt said their word, expressed their demands loud and clear, and those who do not listen to the will of their people, will be removed by the power of the very same people.
Power that did not resort to arms, but a power of will, determination and a clear message against any form of rule that does not listen to them.
They are, and should be, a reminder to every leader, that the people are the work force, are the determining factor, the people refuse to live under oppression, the legitimacy of any president comes from his people, and when the people ask the president to leave, he must step down, instead of hinting to certain armed groups to retaliate.
Egyptian army commander General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced in a statement on Wednesday, that the Egypt's armed forces deposed elected Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and said that the president had "failed to meet the demands of the Egyptian people."
Al-Sisi also declared the suspension of constitution and the launching of a roadmap for the future to return to democratic rule under a revised rulebook.
The statement added, the president of the supreme constitutional court was appointed as interim head of state, assisted by an interim council and technocratic government until new presidential and parliamentary elections are held.
After al-Sisi's speech, wild cheering and fireworks erupted by hundreds of thousands of anti-Morsi protesters in central Cairo's Tahrir Square while holding flags.
Yet, a statement published in Morsi's name on his official Facebook page after Sisi's speech said the measures announced amounted to "a full military coup" and were "totally rejected."
Morsi asserted that he was still the president of Egypt and that all citizens must honor the constitution.
It's worth mentioning that four people were killed and several injured in clashes between Morsi supporters and the Egyptian army in the Matrouh Governate near the Libyan border, hours following the army's announcement.
Al-Sisi also declared the suspension of constitution and the launching of a roadmap for the future to return to democratic rule under a revised rulebook.
The statement added, the president of the supreme constitutional court was appointed as interim head of state, assisted by an interim council and technocratic government until new presidential and parliamentary elections are held.
After al-Sisi's speech, wild cheering and fireworks erupted by hundreds of thousands of anti-Morsi protesters in central Cairo's Tahrir Square while holding flags.
Yet, a statement published in Morsi's name on his official Facebook page after Sisi's speech said the measures announced amounted to "a full military coup" and were "totally rejected."
Morsi asserted that he was still the president of Egypt and that all citizens must honor the constitution.
It's worth mentioning that four people were killed and several injured in clashes between Morsi supporters and the Egyptian army in the Matrouh Governate near the Libyan border, hours following the army's announcement.
3 july 2013
Hamas stands to be the major loser in the latest popular revolt in Egypt, which pits millions of Egyptians against now deposed President Mohammed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood.
The Islamic Resistance Movement, known for its Arabic acronym Hamas, a year ago welcomed Morsi’s election. Both Hamas and Morsi ideologically belong to the same Islamist movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, although there is no organizational link between the two groups. In fact, contrary to conventional thinking, Hamas and the Morsi administration have had a rocky relationship despite their ideological closeness. Many Egyptians accuse Hamas of responsibility for the killing of 16 of its soldiers in August 2012 near the Gaza-Egypt border. Egypt's government-controlled al-Ahram observed as late as April that Egyptian support for Hamas was declining.
Reports that some 7,000 Hamas militants were in Egypt to support the Brotherhood circulated in the media despite persistent denials by Egyptian as well as Hamas spokesmen. Like Hezbollah, Hamas is accused in Egyptian courts of engineering the jailbreak of several senior Muslim Brotherhood leaders, including Morsi, in 2011.
Egyptians also believe that Hamas members have been the key source of instability in Sinai. In April, Egyptian soldiers and officers were abducted there, and Hamas was accused of involvement. Although Hamas denies the allegations, they persist, putting Hamas officials on the defensive.
When opponents of the Morsi regime announced mass protests demanding Morsi’s resignation, anti-Hamas sentiment escalated with rumors that Hamas militants would be infiltrating from Gaza to help keep Morsi in power. The rumors caused the Egyptian government to ratchet-up its efforts to close the Rafah tunnels between Gaza and Egypt to control the movement of people and to put the rumors to rest.
Despite these efforts, the rumors implicating Hamas in propping up the Morsi regime continued to circulate, prompting additional Egyptian attempts to close the tunnels and restrict movement, a process that is causing severe shortages in the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Whatever the truth regarding Hamas’ involvement or lack thereof, perceptions in the streets and squares of Egypt put the Hamas movement in the same corner with Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood. Because of this, now that Morsi has fallen, one of the first groups to pay the price will be Hamas.
This comes at the worse possible time for the Islamist movement, which recently lost its base in Syria and financial support from Iran as a result of its decision to oppose former ally and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and join the rebels in trying to bring him down.
Even friendly Qatar might discontinue its political and financial support of Hamas. The change in leadership in Doha, with the transfer of power to Prince Tamim, is said to be the result of a yet undeclared policy to moderate Qatar’s foreign policy. When the pro-Qatari Islamist ideologue Yusuf al-Qaradawi traveled to Egypt this week, he went out of his way to point out that he had not been deported from Qatar.
The fate of Morsi and Hamas have been linked, and the coming days will determine the fate, for years to come, of the Palestinian Islamist organization that has held the Gaza Strip under its sole control since 2007, refusing every opportunity for reconciliation or elections.
Daoud Kuttab is a contributing writer for Al-Monitor's Palestine Pulse. A Palestinian journalist and media activist, he is a former Ferris Professor of journalism at Princeton University and is currently the director-general of Community Media Network, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing independent media in the Arab region. On Twitter: @daoudkuttab
The Islamic Resistance Movement, known for its Arabic acronym Hamas, a year ago welcomed Morsi’s election. Both Hamas and Morsi ideologically belong to the same Islamist movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, although there is no organizational link between the two groups. In fact, contrary to conventional thinking, Hamas and the Morsi administration have had a rocky relationship despite their ideological closeness. Many Egyptians accuse Hamas of responsibility for the killing of 16 of its soldiers in August 2012 near the Gaza-Egypt border. Egypt's government-controlled al-Ahram observed as late as April that Egyptian support for Hamas was declining.
Reports that some 7,000 Hamas militants were in Egypt to support the Brotherhood circulated in the media despite persistent denials by Egyptian as well as Hamas spokesmen. Like Hezbollah, Hamas is accused in Egyptian courts of engineering the jailbreak of several senior Muslim Brotherhood leaders, including Morsi, in 2011.
Egyptians also believe that Hamas members have been the key source of instability in Sinai. In April, Egyptian soldiers and officers were abducted there, and Hamas was accused of involvement. Although Hamas denies the allegations, they persist, putting Hamas officials on the defensive.
When opponents of the Morsi regime announced mass protests demanding Morsi’s resignation, anti-Hamas sentiment escalated with rumors that Hamas militants would be infiltrating from Gaza to help keep Morsi in power. The rumors caused the Egyptian government to ratchet-up its efforts to close the Rafah tunnels between Gaza and Egypt to control the movement of people and to put the rumors to rest.
Despite these efforts, the rumors implicating Hamas in propping up the Morsi regime continued to circulate, prompting additional Egyptian attempts to close the tunnels and restrict movement, a process that is causing severe shortages in the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Whatever the truth regarding Hamas’ involvement or lack thereof, perceptions in the streets and squares of Egypt put the Hamas movement in the same corner with Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood. Because of this, now that Morsi has fallen, one of the first groups to pay the price will be Hamas.
This comes at the worse possible time for the Islamist movement, which recently lost its base in Syria and financial support from Iran as a result of its decision to oppose former ally and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and join the rebels in trying to bring him down.
Even friendly Qatar might discontinue its political and financial support of Hamas. The change in leadership in Doha, with the transfer of power to Prince Tamim, is said to be the result of a yet undeclared policy to moderate Qatar’s foreign policy. When the pro-Qatari Islamist ideologue Yusuf al-Qaradawi traveled to Egypt this week, he went out of his way to point out that he had not been deported from Qatar.
The fate of Morsi and Hamas have been linked, and the coming days will determine the fate, for years to come, of the Palestinian Islamist organization that has held the Gaza Strip under its sole control since 2007, refusing every opportunity for reconciliation or elections.
Daoud Kuttab is a contributing writer for Al-Monitor's Palestine Pulse. A Palestinian journalist and media activist, he is a former Ferris Professor of journalism at Princeton University and is currently the director-general of Community Media Network, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing independent media in the Arab region. On Twitter: @daoudkuttab
A member of Hamas security forces stands guard in front of the closed gate of the Rafah crossing with Egypt, in the southern Gaza Strip, May 17, 2013
Hamas’ concerns over Egypt are growing after the dismissal of their Islamist ally Mohammed Morsi. Indeed, the movement believed that the election of Morsi would bode well for Hamas. It celebrated the victory of the new Egyptian president and distributed sweets, believing that the arrival of the Muslim Brotherhood to power would increase Hamas’ strength in the Gaza Strip and abroad.
Hamas’s leadership and members, as well as the Palestinian public, have been keeping a close eye on the accelerating events in Egypt, as they have a great impact on the Palestinian cause. Nevertheless, the leaders of the Islamic movement and its affiliated media outlets have remained calm, waiting for the possible outcome of the Egyptian crisis.
According to an informed source that spoke to Al-Monitor on the condition of anonymity, Hamas has issued a clear statement to all its leadership and members not to talk about the details of what is happening in Egypt, limiting their statements to “express their sympathy and hope that Egypt might emerge peacefully from this current crisis, as the movement does not want to interfere in Arab domestic affairs, and so the Egyptian opposition does not use the movement’s stances and statements to their advantage.”
The source explained that Hamas has held consecutive meetings that include all of its affiliates to discuss the implications of events in Egypt and to put forward “different scenarios to deal with the situation in Egypt, whether the Muslim Brotherhood would manage to overcome the crisis or not.” The source refused to disclose the nature of these scenarios.
Ever since the outbreak of protests, Al-Monitor has been following Hamas’ audio and print media. The coverage of the Egyptian events has been cautious so as to abide by the movement's decision not to interfere in Egypt. Al-Monitor has also tried to contact some leaders and media spokesmen to have them comment on domestic events in Egypt. However, some remained silent and declined to comment, while others said, “We do not wish to interfere in Egyptian affairs and hope that Egypt can overcome this crisis.”
Egyptian opposition-affiliated media outlets have launched a scathing attack on the relationship between Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood since Morsi came to power, accusing Hamas of manipulating Egyptian affairs, a claim that the Islamist movement has denied.
Incidentally, Hamas moved its headquarters from Syria to Egypt after the eruption of the Syrian revolution, which was not an option during the era of former President Hosni Mubarak.
The source added, “The new Egypt is seen as the most prominent Arab component in the history of the Islamic movement, mainly the Muslim Brotherhood, which regards Hamas as its Palestinian branch. Any potential fall of this system would reflect negatively on the Arab and Islamic world as a whole and not Palestine alone.”
Opponents of Hamas in the Gaza Strip have been supporting Egyptian protesters, who demanded the removal of Morsi, hoping that this would pave the way for Hamas’ collapse. Meanwhile, Hamas advocates have condemned the Egyptian protests via social networking sites.
The opinion writers opposing the rule of Hamas took strong stances toward the Egyptian crisis. Mohannad Abdul Hamid, in a July 2 article in Al-Ayyam, wrote, “The rule of the Muslim Brotherhood has proved to be a failure in every sense and standard.”
In another article published in the same newspaper, author Rajab Abu Sariya wrote, “The rule of the Muslim Brotherhood has fallen, and the ball is in the ‘protesters’ court, who are able to impose their democratic and popular conditions. Moderate Islamist parties can be partners in the next government, but the Muslim Brotherhood must be dissolved.”
Hamas-affiliated writers, on the other hand, took a defensive stance. In a June 27 article in Al-Resalah newspaper, Moomen Bsayso said, “What is happening today in Egypt is catastrophic and devastating at all levels. [These actions are designed to] undermine reason in favor of temperance, initiate chaos in the face of the law and adopt exclusion and forced exile as alternatives to mutual understanding. They seek to dissipate the gains and achievements of the popular uprising that was launched by the blood of martyrs and the pains and suffering of the people during decades of injustice, oppression and tyranny.”
The Egyptian army has tightened restrictions on the border region between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, which is dotted with hundreds of tunnels, and Hamas has imposed strict security measures and tightened control over the transport of goods and smuggling operations. Thus, all smuggling and transport activities have stopped.
The construction and urbanization sector in Gaza has also been paralyzed as building materials are no longer smuggled into the besieged Strip. This is not to mention the sharp decline in the movement of internal transportation as a result of cutting off the fuel supply, which used to be smuggled from Egypt.
The Rafah crossing linking Gaza and Egypt has, however, remained open during these events, contrary to expectations. However, passenger traffic has declined as Egyptian authorities have reduced the number of Palestinians crossing the border to just a few hundred each day.
Speaking to Al-Monitor, Maher Abu Sabha, director general of the General Department of Palestinian Crossings in Gaza, said, “The passenger traffic has declined significantly. No more than 400 passengers are allowed to cross every day under the agreement between both sides. Since the eruption of the protests, the Egyptian side has limited the number of passengers to fewer than 200 people, while before 1,500 people used to pass through the crossings.”
As the crisis in Egypt continues, the same Hamas source expressed his fears to Al-Monitor that “the Egyptian people would slide into civil war or sectarian conflict, as is the case in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq.” The source said, “Should this happen, the centrality of the Palestinian cause in the Arab world would be undermined and we would enter into an endless cycle, while Israel would emerge as the sole beneficiary.”
Hazem Balousha is a Palestinian journalist based in Gaza City. He has worked as a news producer for BBC World Service, contributed to Deutsche Welle and has written for The Guardian, Al-Raya (Qatar) and other publications. He is the founder of the Palestinian Institute for Communication and Development (PICD). On Twitter: @iHaZeMi
Hamas’ concerns over Egypt are growing after the dismissal of their Islamist ally Mohammed Morsi. Indeed, the movement believed that the election of Morsi would bode well for Hamas. It celebrated the victory of the new Egyptian president and distributed sweets, believing that the arrival of the Muslim Brotherhood to power would increase Hamas’ strength in the Gaza Strip and abroad.
Hamas’s leadership and members, as well as the Palestinian public, have been keeping a close eye on the accelerating events in Egypt, as they have a great impact on the Palestinian cause. Nevertheless, the leaders of the Islamic movement and its affiliated media outlets have remained calm, waiting for the possible outcome of the Egyptian crisis.
According to an informed source that spoke to Al-Monitor on the condition of anonymity, Hamas has issued a clear statement to all its leadership and members not to talk about the details of what is happening in Egypt, limiting their statements to “express their sympathy and hope that Egypt might emerge peacefully from this current crisis, as the movement does not want to interfere in Arab domestic affairs, and so the Egyptian opposition does not use the movement’s stances and statements to their advantage.”
The source explained that Hamas has held consecutive meetings that include all of its affiliates to discuss the implications of events in Egypt and to put forward “different scenarios to deal with the situation in Egypt, whether the Muslim Brotherhood would manage to overcome the crisis or not.” The source refused to disclose the nature of these scenarios.
Ever since the outbreak of protests, Al-Monitor has been following Hamas’ audio and print media. The coverage of the Egyptian events has been cautious so as to abide by the movement's decision not to interfere in Egypt. Al-Monitor has also tried to contact some leaders and media spokesmen to have them comment on domestic events in Egypt. However, some remained silent and declined to comment, while others said, “We do not wish to interfere in Egyptian affairs and hope that Egypt can overcome this crisis.”
Egyptian opposition-affiliated media outlets have launched a scathing attack on the relationship between Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood since Morsi came to power, accusing Hamas of manipulating Egyptian affairs, a claim that the Islamist movement has denied.
Incidentally, Hamas moved its headquarters from Syria to Egypt after the eruption of the Syrian revolution, which was not an option during the era of former President Hosni Mubarak.
The source added, “The new Egypt is seen as the most prominent Arab component in the history of the Islamic movement, mainly the Muslim Brotherhood, which regards Hamas as its Palestinian branch. Any potential fall of this system would reflect negatively on the Arab and Islamic world as a whole and not Palestine alone.”
Opponents of Hamas in the Gaza Strip have been supporting Egyptian protesters, who demanded the removal of Morsi, hoping that this would pave the way for Hamas’ collapse. Meanwhile, Hamas advocates have condemned the Egyptian protests via social networking sites.
The opinion writers opposing the rule of Hamas took strong stances toward the Egyptian crisis. Mohannad Abdul Hamid, in a July 2 article in Al-Ayyam, wrote, “The rule of the Muslim Brotherhood has proved to be a failure in every sense and standard.”
In another article published in the same newspaper, author Rajab Abu Sariya wrote, “The rule of the Muslim Brotherhood has fallen, and the ball is in the ‘protesters’ court, who are able to impose their democratic and popular conditions. Moderate Islamist parties can be partners in the next government, but the Muslim Brotherhood must be dissolved.”
Hamas-affiliated writers, on the other hand, took a defensive stance. In a June 27 article in Al-Resalah newspaper, Moomen Bsayso said, “What is happening today in Egypt is catastrophic and devastating at all levels. [These actions are designed to] undermine reason in favor of temperance, initiate chaos in the face of the law and adopt exclusion and forced exile as alternatives to mutual understanding. They seek to dissipate the gains and achievements of the popular uprising that was launched by the blood of martyrs and the pains and suffering of the people during decades of injustice, oppression and tyranny.”
The Egyptian army has tightened restrictions on the border region between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, which is dotted with hundreds of tunnels, and Hamas has imposed strict security measures and tightened control over the transport of goods and smuggling operations. Thus, all smuggling and transport activities have stopped.
The construction and urbanization sector in Gaza has also been paralyzed as building materials are no longer smuggled into the besieged Strip. This is not to mention the sharp decline in the movement of internal transportation as a result of cutting off the fuel supply, which used to be smuggled from Egypt.
The Rafah crossing linking Gaza and Egypt has, however, remained open during these events, contrary to expectations. However, passenger traffic has declined as Egyptian authorities have reduced the number of Palestinians crossing the border to just a few hundred each day.
Speaking to Al-Monitor, Maher Abu Sabha, director general of the General Department of Palestinian Crossings in Gaza, said, “The passenger traffic has declined significantly. No more than 400 passengers are allowed to cross every day under the agreement between both sides. Since the eruption of the protests, the Egyptian side has limited the number of passengers to fewer than 200 people, while before 1,500 people used to pass through the crossings.”
As the crisis in Egypt continues, the same Hamas source expressed his fears to Al-Monitor that “the Egyptian people would slide into civil war or sectarian conflict, as is the case in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq.” The source said, “Should this happen, the centrality of the Palestinian cause in the Arab world would be undermined and we would enter into an endless cycle, while Israel would emerge as the sole beneficiary.”
Hazem Balousha is a Palestinian journalist based in Gaza City. He has worked as a news producer for BBC World Service, contributed to Deutsche Welle and has written for The Guardian, Al-Raya (Qatar) and other publications. He is the founder of the Palestinian Institute for Communication and Development (PICD). On Twitter: @iHaZeMi
Israeli daily, Yedioth Aharonoth have reported Tuesday [July 2 2013] that, despite the current massive protests in Egypt, and what it described as “chaos”, security coordination between the Israeli army and the Egyptian army is ongoing, and that Tel Aviv approved an Egyptian request for more Egyptian troops in Sinai.
Israel Army said that the Egyptian operations against armed groups in Sinai are carried out in direct coordination with Tel Aviv, and added that the Israeli political leadership approved the Egyptian request due to what was described as “security threats to both Cairo and Tel Aviv”.
Yedioth Aharonoth said tha more Egyptian soldiers will be deployed along the border with Gaza, to prevent arms smuggling.
The Associated Press have reported that Egypt deployed dozens of armored vehicles in Sinai and border areas, and added that the operations carried out by the Egyptian army target what was described as “terrorist Islamists operating in the triangular border area (Egypt, Israel and the Gaza Strip).”
It also said that these operations are carried out in direct cooperation between senior Israeli and Egyptian military leaders.
Israel Army said that the Egyptian operations against armed groups in Sinai are carried out in direct coordination with Tel Aviv, and added that the Israeli political leadership approved the Egyptian request due to what was described as “security threats to both Cairo and Tel Aviv”.
Yedioth Aharonoth said tha more Egyptian soldiers will be deployed along the border with Gaza, to prevent arms smuggling.
The Associated Press have reported that Egypt deployed dozens of armored vehicles in Sinai and border areas, and added that the operations carried out by the Egyptian army target what was described as “terrorist Islamists operating in the triangular border area (Egypt, Israel and the Gaza Strip).”
It also said that these operations are carried out in direct cooperation between senior Israeli and Egyptian military leaders.
Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi
Egypt's army chief has ousted President Mohamed Morsi and dissolved the country's constitution in a move aimed at resolving the country’s debilitating political crisis.
General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi made the announcement on state television on Wednesday.
Sisi also said that new parliamentary elections will be held, and declared head of Supreme Constitutional Court Adli Mansour as the caretaker leader.
The army announced the roadmap hours after its two-day ultimatum to Morsi came to an end.
Sisi said that the army was fulfilling its "historic responsibility" to protect the country, and Morsi had "failed to meet the demands of the Egyptian people."
There is no indication of Morsi's current whereabouts.
The army chief’s announcement triggered jubilation and fireworks in the streets of Cairo. Elsewhere in the city, Morsi’s supporters shouted “No to military rule.”
In a statement posted on the presidential Facebook, Morsi denounced the army’s move as a "military coup,” asking the Egyptians to "abide by the constitution and the law and not to respond to this coup.”
Meanwhile, opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei said the roadmap announced by Sisi “meets the people's demands for early presidential elections.”
Egypt's second largest Islamist group, the al-Nour Party, also said it agreed to the army roadmap in order to put an end to the country’s political crisis.
Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood TV channel was reportedly taken off the air and its managers arrested after Morsi’s ouster.
Egypt's army chief has ousted President Mohamed Morsi and dissolved the country's constitution in a move aimed at resolving the country’s debilitating political crisis.
General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi made the announcement on state television on Wednesday.
Sisi also said that new parliamentary elections will be held, and declared head of Supreme Constitutional Court Adli Mansour as the caretaker leader.
The army announced the roadmap hours after its two-day ultimatum to Morsi came to an end.
Sisi said that the army was fulfilling its "historic responsibility" to protect the country, and Morsi had "failed to meet the demands of the Egyptian people."
There is no indication of Morsi's current whereabouts.
The army chief’s announcement triggered jubilation and fireworks in the streets of Cairo. Elsewhere in the city, Morsi’s supporters shouted “No to military rule.”
In a statement posted on the presidential Facebook, Morsi denounced the army’s move as a "military coup,” asking the Egyptians to "abide by the constitution and the law and not to respond to this coup.”
Meanwhile, opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei said the roadmap announced by Sisi “meets the people's demands for early presidential elections.”
Egypt's second largest Islamist group, the al-Nour Party, also said it agreed to the army roadmap in order to put an end to the country’s political crisis.
Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood TV channel was reportedly taken off the air and its managers arrested after Morsi’s ouster.
30 june 2013
Gunmen shot and killed an Egyptian police officer during an ambush Saturday in the Sinai peninsula, a security source said, the second attack on police in the restive region this month.
"Colonel Mohammed Hani, a high-ranking officer, was killed by six bullets to the head when unknown gunmen opened fire on him with machine guns," the source said.
The gunmen were in a car that was used to ambush the officer in a street of the Sinai town of El-Arish, he said.
Another security source blamed the attack on Islamist militants and said it was the second one in a month targeting the police in the Sinai.
Three weeks ago, armed men shot dead police officer Mohammed Abu Shaqra who served in the anti-terrorism squad at El-Arish.
A hive of militant activity, Egypt's Sinai peninsula is a major route for drugs smuggling and human trafficking.
Ever since the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak in 2011, throwing his feared security services into disarray, the region has grown even more restless and awash with weapons.
Attacks on police and soldiers, and abductions of tourists, in the sparsely populated peninsula have surged since Mubarak's overthrow as have cross-border attacks on Israel.
In August 2012, suspected Islamist gunmen killed 16 Egyptian soldiers near Israel's border and commandeered an armoured vehicle into Israel, where they were stopped by a helicopter strike.
Bedouin activists who populate the Sinai have long complained of the government's neglect of the region, saying they have been treated as second-class citizens ever since Israel handed back the peninsula it had seized in the 1967 Six-Day War.
"Colonel Mohammed Hani, a high-ranking officer, was killed by six bullets to the head when unknown gunmen opened fire on him with machine guns," the source said.
The gunmen were in a car that was used to ambush the officer in a street of the Sinai town of El-Arish, he said.
Another security source blamed the attack on Islamist militants and said it was the second one in a month targeting the police in the Sinai.
Three weeks ago, armed men shot dead police officer Mohammed Abu Shaqra who served in the anti-terrorism squad at El-Arish.
A hive of militant activity, Egypt's Sinai peninsula is a major route for drugs smuggling and human trafficking.
Ever since the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak in 2011, throwing his feared security services into disarray, the region has grown even more restless and awash with weapons.
Attacks on police and soldiers, and abductions of tourists, in the sparsely populated peninsula have surged since Mubarak's overthrow as have cross-border attacks on Israel.
In August 2012, suspected Islamist gunmen killed 16 Egyptian soldiers near Israel's border and commandeered an armoured vehicle into Israel, where they were stopped by a helicopter strike.
Bedouin activists who populate the Sinai have long complained of the government's neglect of the region, saying they have been treated as second-class citizens ever since Israel handed back the peninsula it had seized in the 1967 Six-Day War.