A governmental committee tasked with appraising the monetary assets of the Muslim Brotherhood filed a legal suit to the general prosecutor on Thursday against 737 members of the Brotherhood on charges of financing a terrorist organization.

Sisi regulates leadership of top security council
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued a decree on Thursday regulating the leadership of the country’s top security council, said presidential spokesman Ihab Badawi said. Badawi said the law mandates forming an organizing committee for the National Security Council to plan meetings and provide the needed research and documents. The president appoints the head of the committee as well as the members, based on the head’s suggestion. The head of the committee also has ministerial powers as they relate to financial and managerial issues in the council. [Ahram Online, SIS, Ahram (Arabic), 7/10/2014]

Egyptian political movements condemn latest Israeli Gaza offensive
Political parties and movements in Egypt strongly condemned the deadly attacks on the Gaza strip Thursday, some calling for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador to Cairo. Al-Dostour Party called on Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to exert all efforts to stop the Israeli offensive on the Palestinians of Gaza. The call was reiterated by the Salafi Nour Party and the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, the latter describing the offensive as a “threat to the Arab world’s national security.” Al-Azhar’s highest cleric Ahmed al-Tayyeb condemned what he described as brutal and barbaric Israeli assaults against Gaza, saying, “Arabs and Muslims will not remain patient for long over those violations that go against human values and international laws.” The Revolutionary Socialists and the April 6 movement, meanwhile, condemned the Arab countries’ “silence” in the face of Israel’s latest offensive. Both movements condemned the Egyptian authorities for keeping the Rafah border crossing closed despite the offensive. The Revolutionary Socialists, the April 6 movement and Strong Egypt Party also called on Egyptian authorities to expel Israeli ambassador to Egypt Haim Koren. [DNE, Aswat Masriya (Arabic), 7/11/2014]

Also of Interest:

  • Egyptian designer of Europe’s largest train station becomes PM’s adviser, asks not to get paid | Egypt Independent
  • Mahlab probes amicable settlement of disputes with investors | SIS
  • Sisi calls for unity to achieve Egyptian people’s aspiration: Spokesman | SIS
  • A year of legal setbacks | Mada Masr
  • Rifts emerge as parties vie for electoral alliances | Shorouk (Arabic)
  • Nour party seeks to meet Mahlab to discuss economic crisis | Shorouk (Arabic)
  • Ministries of Supply and Communications sign protocol of cooperation | Aswat Masriya (Arabic)

COURTS

Leading Brotherhood figures referred on charges of financing ‘terrorist’ organization
A governmental committee tasked with appraising the monetary assets of the Muslim Brotherhood filed a legal suit to the general prosecutor on Thursday against 737 members of the Brotherhood on charges of financing a terrorist organization. The head of the committee, Ezzat Khamis, told Reuters affiliated Aswat Masriya that he has provided the prosecutor with legal papers showing the involvement of leading members Khairat al-Shater, Mohamed al-Beltagy, Essam al-Erian and the Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie in funding the organization. Prosecutors will investigate the suit according to article 86 of the Egyptian penal code, which defines terrorism and the penalties for engaging in it, including the death penalty. [Ahram Online, 7/10/2014]

Also of Interest:

  • Security forces arrest five Brotherhood members in Alexandria for violating protest law | EGYNews (Arabic), Shorouk (Arabic)
  • Six brotherhood members arrested in Fayoum | EGYNews (Arabic), AMAY (Arabic)
  • Court to rule on Tahrir sexual assault detainees on July 16 | Ahram Online
  • Two arrested for alleged sexual assault of tourist in Hurghada | Egypt Independent
  • Hambouly’s death sentence sent to grand mufti | Egypt Independent
  • Supreme Court: Judges’ salaries do not exceed maximum wage | Aswat Masriya

ECONOMY

SIS: New development programs by EU to support Egypt’s economy
European Union (EU) Ambassador to Egypt James Moran announced Wednesday that new programs of cooperation with Cairo will start next month to support Egypt’s economy. The ambassador made the remarks during a joint press conference with Italian ambassador to Cairo Maurizio Massari. Moran stated that Egypt has chosen the right course of economic reform which will lead to creation of new jobs. [SIS, 7/11/2014]

Also of Interest:

  • Egypt stocks end week of gains in red as investors cash in | Ahram Online
  • Maximum wage to be applied by end of July | Egypt Independent
  • Saudi Arabia largest importer of Egyptian goods | Egypt Independent
  • No fix for Egypt’s LNG needs as search for terminal widens | Reuters
  • Controls on food prices tightened | EGYNews (Arabic)
  • Economic cooperation between Egypt and Ethiopia on the rise | Al Monitor

SOCIETY & MEDIA

Egyptian activists to send aid convoy to Gaza
A number of Egyptian activists have decided to prepare a popular aid convoy headed to the Gaza strip in support of the Palestinian people, Moataza Abdel Sabour, an initiative participant, told Aswat Masriya on Thursday. “The convoy will be dependent on grass root donations. The participation of political parties will be limited to the collection and storage of medical aid or similar help,” Abdel Sabour said.  Abdel Sabour does not expect the convoy to head to Gaza before a week, so that all the necessary aid materials are supplied and cross permits are obtained.[Aswat Masriya, 7/10/2014]

Also of Interest:

  • Detained female activists refuse NCHR delegation | DNE
  • Grocers complain of goods being delayed | Shorouk (Arabic)
  • Clashes erupt between citizens and microbus drivers | Shorouk (Arabic)
  • Street vendors wait for government promises | Shorouk (Arabic)
  • Ministry of supply announces new system of bread allocation in Alexandria | AMAY (Arabic)
  • Alexandria parties launch campaign to prevent exploitation of citizens after price increases | Ahram Gateway (Arabic)
  • National Alliance to Support Legitimacy calls for rallies | Aswat Masriya (Arabic)
  • Morsi supporters in Kafr al-Sheikh march, denounce increase in fuel prices and Israeli aggression | Shorouk (Arabic)
  • Morsi supporters march in Alexandria condemning increase in prices and armed forces | Shorouk (Arabic)
  • Clashes erupt between security forces and Brotherhood supporters in Cairo | AMAY (Arabic)

SECURITY

Egypt security forces prevent attempt to smuggle rockets through Rafah
Security forces in North Sinai prevented on Thursday an attempt to smuggle twenty Grad rockets from Gaza through tunnels in Rafah. Violent clashes broke out between security forces and Palestinian extremists as the latter attempted to smuggle the rockets and their bases, security sources told Aswat Masriya. The extremists aimed to use the rockets to target Israel or Egyptian forces in Sinai, the sources added. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Sedki Sobhi ordered the Egyptian military to send 500 tons of food and medical supplies to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. [Aswat Masriya, Ahram (Arabic), 7/11/2014]

Also of Interest:

  • Alexandria train chief bomb-maker arrested | SIS
  • Border guards discover secret weapons and ammunition stash in Matrouh | Shorouk (Arabic)
  • Sobhi: armed forces and police are the protectors of Egypt | Shorouk (Arabic), EGYNews (Arabic), Ahram (Arabic)

INTERNATIONAL

Egypt urges world powers to help end Gaza bloodshed
Egypt on Friday condemned Israel’s “irresponsible” escalation in Gaza, urging the international community to swiftly intervene as Israeli airstrikes continued for a fourth day.  Egypt’s foreign ministry said Cairo rejected Israel’s excess use of military force and the collective punishment policy it is adopting against the Palestinians. Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry spoke to his British counterpart Thursday, calling on the UK to convince Israel to exercise restraint and bring an end to the airstrikes. Meanwhile, Egypt’s health minister says that local hospitals have received nearly a dozen cases of wounded Palestinians, amid the offensive that has left over 80 people dead. Egypt’s State Information Service reported that the Palestinian leadership thanked Egypt Thursday for responding to the Palestinian request to open the Rafah crossing and the transfer of injured Palestinians to Egyptian hospitals. [Ahram Online, Aswat Masriya (Arabic), 7/11/2014]

Also of Interest:

  • FM: Egypt keen on Iraq stability | Egypt Independent
  • German tour operators resume trips to Sharm al-Sheikh | Reuters
  • Egyptian fans must choose Hebrew or Qatari channel for World Cup final | The Guardian
  • Ancient Egyptian statue sells for £16 million in UK despite outcry | Ahram OnlineThe Guardian
  • Sudanese prime minister arrives in Cairo | Ahram (Arabic)
  • Cairo airport receives twenty-six Egyptians deported from Italy | Shorouk (Arabic)