Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsi rejected on Thursday what he called Israel’s aggression in Gaza and said he had spoken with US President Barack Obama about ways to bring it to a halt.
GOVERNMENT & OPPOSITION
Egypt President Morsi says Israel aggression in Gaza ‘unacceptable’
Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsi rejected on Thursday what he called Israel’s aggression in Gaza and said he had spoken with US President Barack Obama about ways to bring it to a halt. "The Israelis must understand that we do not accept this aggression, which can only lead to instability in the region," Morsi said in televised remarks, as Israeli air forces pummeled Gaza and militants fired rockets back in a deadly tit for tat. President Morsi held an emergency meeting early Thursday with Prime Minister Hisham Kandil, Minister of Defense Abdel Fatah El-Sissy and Interior Minister Mohamed Gamal El-Din to discuss domestic and regional developments, principally the latest Israeli aggression on Gaza. [AFP/Ahram Online, EGYNews (Arabic), 11/15/2012]
Egypt political figures, forces voice outrage over Israeli aggression in Gaza
Egyptian political forces and public figures reacted angrily to Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip Wednesday, which killed top Hamas commander Ahmed Al-Jaabari and 13 others. Egypt’s Salafist Nour Party stated in a press release that it would support the Palestinians of Gaza "financially, and with the necessary manpower," until all Palestinian rights were obtained. The Muslim Brotherhood called for mass protests Thursday and Friday in response to the Israeli assault. Liberal figures and parties echoed this condemnation, emphasizing Israel’s breaches of international human rights conventions. [Ahram Online, Egypt Independent, Shorouk (Arabic), 11/15/2012]
COURTS & CONSTITUTION
6 April freezes membership of Constituent Assembly
Ahmed Maher, founder of the 6 April movement and member of the Constituent Assembly, announced that he is joining some other members of the assembly and withdrawing his membership. In a statement on Thursday, Maher said his decision to freeze his membership came late after considering all the proposals from civil forces, political parties and movements that were ignored by the assembly’s leading figures. [Egypt Independent, EGYNews (Arabic), 11/15/2012]
Court to rule in blogger’s contempt of religion case
The Marg Misdemeanor Court is scheduled to issue a verdict in the trial of Albert Saber, a blogger accused of contempt of religion, on 28 November. Saber’s trial on charges of contempt of Islam and Christianity and taunting God, the prophets and religious rites and sanctities began in September after investigators said he posted text, pictures and audiovisual material online that promoted atheism. [Egypt Independent, 11/14/2012]
Anti-graft body asks court to immediately freeze Shafiq assets
The Illicit Gains Authority called on the Cairo Appeals Court to urgently review the authority’s decision to freeze the assets of Ahmed Shafiq, Hosni Mubarak’s last prime minister and a former presidential candidate, along with other former regime officials. According to the law, the Appeals Court must agree with the IGA, a body affiliated with the Justice Ministry, to freeze any assets. [Egypt Independent, 11/15/2012]
ECONOMY
IMF mission stays for more loan negotiations
The Central Bank announced Wednesday that an International Monetary Fund delegation is staying in Cairo for several more days to complete negotiations for a loan to the government. The mission arrived in Cairo on 31 October to negotiate the terms of a US$4.8 billion loan requested by Egypt to bridge its budget deficit, which is expected to hit LE170 billion this year. A senior Central Bank official had told Al-Masry Al-Youm an agreement on the loan would be reached before the Christmas holidays. [Egypt Independent, 11/14/2012]
SECURITY & SINAI
Security intensified in Suez after Gaza attacks, says chief
Suez security head Major General Adel Refaat said Thursday security has been intensified at the Ahmed Hamdy tunnel and along the Suez Canal because of the incidents taking place in Gaza. Refaat said that the Armed Forces and police are coordinating to ensure stability, adding that security leaders have inspected the patrols. Security sources also confirmed that forces of the Egyptian army redeployed from the army headquarters in Ismailia to the border areas with Israel. [Egypt Independent, Shorouk (Arabic), 11/15/2012]
SOCIETY & MEDIA
Hundreds march in Cairo to demand an end to diplomatic ties with Israel
Hundreds of angry protesters march on Wednesday evening from Talaat Harb Square in downtown Cairo heading towards the ministry of foreign affairs near Tahrir Square to condemn the ongoing brutal attacks on the Gaza Strip by the Israeli forces. Protesters chanted “Gaza Gaza, You’re the pride,“ “Arab states are cowardly,” “Palestinian blood is our blood,” as they carried Palestinian flags. Protesters are demanding Egypt cut diplomatic ties with Israel and close down the Israeli embassy in Cairo. [Ahram Online, DNE, EGYNews (Arabic), 11/14/2012]
REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Egypt’s president Morsi recalls ambassador from Israel
The Egyptian State TV announced shortly after 9pm that President Mohamed Morsi has recalled the Egyptian ambassador to Israel, Atef Mohamed Salem. In a televised statement, presidential spokesperson Yasser Ali said that Morsi has also summoned the Israeli ambassador in Cairo to convey Egypt’s rejection of continued Israeli attacks on Gaza. Israel’s ambassador to Egypt has not been recalled, an Israeli diplomat said in Jerusalem on Wednesday after a Cairo airport source reported the envoy had left with his staff. Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal praised President Morsi’s decision to recall nation’s ambassador to Israel, which, according to Meshaal, ‘will never defeat Gaza.’ [Ahram Online, Ahram (Arabic), 11/14/2012]
Obama speaks to Israeli, Egyptian leaders about Gaza violence
President Barack Obama spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi on Wednesday and reiterated U.S. support for Israel’s right to self-defense in light of rocket attacks from Gaza, the White House said. Obama spoke to the leaders about the rocket attacks being launched from Gaza into Israel and the escalating violence in Gaza, the White House said in a statement. [AP, Reuters, 11/15/2012]
Photo: Egyptians chant slogans against the latest Israel airstrikes in Gaza during a protest in Cairo on Wednesday. (AP)
Image: Egypt%20Protest%20Gaza%20AP.jpg
