Egypt has the right to use a buffer zone along its borders with Gaza to boost security, but should also be concerned about the impact on local communities, the United States said Thursday.
POLITICS
Military court rulings against terrorists do not conflict with constitution, says PM
Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab said the military court rulings against terrorists do not conflict with the Constitution. In statements to Al-Osboa news website Thursday, Mahlab added that Article 3 granted the government the right to resort to military courts, noting that there were several terror threats to the national security. He lashed out at the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood violence that takes place at universities, noting that legal measures would be taken against the perpetrators. [SIS, 10/31/2014]
Also of Interest
Governor of North Sinai: compensation to evacuated residents started | Aswat Masriya (Arabic)
Mahlab: Districting committee to complete constituency division by November 10 | Aswat Masriya (Arabic)
Dignity Party: we have 134 candidates for parliamentary elections | AMAY (Arabic)
NASL defies Mahlab, announces continuation of activity | AMAY (Arabic)
COURTS
Maximum sentence for Sharqiyya Brotherhood members
The terrorism circuit of the Zagazig criminal court sentenced Thursday fifteen “Muslim Brotherhood supporters” to jail for three to fifteen years. The defendants are accused of involvement in violence, planning to join a terrorist group, inciting hatred against the military and police, and possession of firearms. The court also found three other defendants innocent in six cases against them. Six other cases against seventy-five Muslim Brotherhood members, including Muslim Brotherhood leader Farid Ismail, was postponed to November. [Shorouk (Arabic), 10/30/2014]
Also of Interest
Public prosecution began investigation on escaped prisoner in Aswan | EGYNews (Arabic)
ECONOMY
Egypt approves $300 million loan deal with the World Bank for SMEs
Egypt approved a $300 million loan agreement with the World Bank that will go for financing small and medium-sized enterprises and creating new job opportunities. The loan deal was signed in Washington in April of 2014. It will open doors for women, youth and marginalized groups to start and grow MSEs utilizing innovative financing tools to expand access to credit. [SIS, 10/31/2014]
Also of Interest
Fertilizer price hikes hurt farmers, companies unsure | Ahram Online
Stimulus package to boost international automotive investment in Egypt | Egypt Independent
Standard & Poor’s delegation in Egypt to assess political environment | Egypt Independent
Conclusion of 50 percent of Suez Canal bifurcation on Friday | Aswat Masriya
SOCIETY & MEDIA
Journalist arrested while reporting on Mahalla protest
A photojournalist allegedly affiliated with Al Jazeera has been detained in Mahalla for reporting on a protest there, the state-owned news agency reported on Thursday. The photographer, identified as Ibrahim M, was working with two other journalists to cover a protest by Mahalla workers condemning terrorism. Secret informants working for the police reportedly confiscated Ibrahim’s notebook, and allegedly found statements written against police and military forces. He was then arrested and referred to the prosecution, while the other two reporters fled the scene. Ibrahim faces charges of belonging to a terrorist organization and distributing false news. [Mada Masr, 10/30/2014]
Foreign ministry official meets foreign NGOs representatives
Foreign Ministry Director of NGOs Affairs Nermien Afifi met on Thursday with representatives of the foreign NGOs working in Egypt. The meeting focused on boosting bilateral cooperation, a statement by the ministry reads. The meeting also touched on the current challenges facing Egypt, especially terrorism and Egypt’s fight against it. Afifi urged the NGOs as well as foreign embassies to inform their countries the true situation in Egypt, affirming that the Egyptian government will continue to work with registered foreign NGOs to make progress in various fields. [SIS, Ahram Gateway (Arabic), 10/30/2014]
Also of Interest
Family of held Egypt activists on hunger strike | AP
Rights groups condemn jurisdiction of military courts | DNE
Interior ministry halts surveillance on Facebook and Twitter pending lawsuit | Shorouk (Arabic)
SECURITY
Security forces disperse protests in Minya, arrest Muslim Brotherhood supporters
Egyptian security forces used tear gas to disperse a protest by “Muslim Brotherhood supporters” in the western city of Minya. The forces broke up the protest, after the Friday prayer, in front of the Fatima Zahra mosque, where protesters chanted slogans against the military and police for their moves of evacuating Sinai residents near the Rafah border. Intense deployment of forces did not result in casualty, but clashes led to traffics. Forces arrested three protesters who threw Molotov cocktails during the clash. In addition, at least eight protesters belonging to the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group were arrested for possession of fireworks and bladed weapons in Alexandria. [Ahram Online, Aswat Masriya (Arabic), Shorouk (Arabic), EGYNews (Arabic), AMAY (Arabic), 10/31/2014]
Chief of staff meets Armed Forces servicemen, police in Arish, Sinai chieftains
Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Mahmoud Hegazy held meetings with Armed Forces servicemen and police in Arish along with Sinai chieftains. Hegazy reviewed the security measures in place to eliminate criminal hotbeds and terrorist hideouts in Sinai. He said that the Egyptian people appreciate the efforts exerted by the Armed Forces and police to preserve Egypt’s national security and eliminate terrorism. While meeting Sinai chieftains, Hegazy hailed their efforts to support the Armed Forces and cooperate with them in imposing security and arresting several takfiri elements. He also affirmed that the success of war on terrorism rests on cooperating with Sinai residents. The security operation has killed another three and destroyed another nine terrorist hotbeds. [SIS, Ahram Gateway (Arabic), Ahram (Arabic),10/30/2014]
Also of Interest
Molotov cocktails thrown at police station in Giza; no damage | Ahram Online, Aswat Masriya (Arabic)
Unknown assailants set fire to Falcon security company’s cars in Tanta | Aswat Masriya (Arabic)
Security forces arrest six belonging to a Muslim Brotherhood terrorist cell | Ahram (Arabic)
Al-Azhar calls on support for Egyptian military in the war on terror | Aswat Masriya (Arabic)
Military court final solution to eliminate terrorism? | Shorouk (Arabic)
Demonstrations in Alexandria condemn terrorism | Shorouk (Arabic)
Security crackdown in western region arrests outlaws, captures firearms and drugs | EGYNews (Arabic)
INTERNATIONAL
Egypt has right to build Sinai buffer zone, says US government
Egypt has the right to use a buffer zone along its borders with Gaza to boost security, but should also be concerned about the impact on local communities, the United States said Thursday. “Certainly we believe that Egypt has the right to take steps to maintain their own security. And we understand the threat that they are facing from the Sinai,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. “We also continue to encourage them to take into account those that would be internally displaced by this,” she added. [AFP, Aswat Masriya (Arabic), Ahram Gateway (Arabic), Shorouk (Arabic),10/30/2014]
Also of Interest
Egypt police halts illegal migration attempt to Italy | Ahram Online
Egypt prepares for Universal Periodic Review | DNE
Foreign Ministry: Syrian crisis cannot be solved by military means | SIS
Egypt calls for pan-Arab cooperation to confront terror | SIS
Egypt’s FM meets UAE state minister | SIS
Shoukry meets Algeria minister on regional issues | SIS, Ahram Gateway (Arabic)
PM underlines importance of cooperating with Russia | SIS, Ahram (Arabic)
EU ambassadors laud Suez Canal project progress | Ahram Gateway (Arabic)
Unfriendly regimes, but stable: Egypt’s regional choice | Ahram Online