- 23 jan 2011
Egypt says Palestinian group behind church bombing
CAIRO (AFP) -- Egyptian Interior Minister Habib Al-Adly said Sunday that a Palestinian group was behind the New Year's church attack in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria that killed more than 20 people.
"The Palestinian Islamic Army, which has links to Al-Qaeda, is behind the attack on the Al-Qiddissin church in Alexandria," Adly said in a speech to mark Police Day, carried live on state television.
A suicide bomber blew himself up outside the church in the Mediterranean city as worshippers emerged from a New Year's Eve mass. The official MENA news agency puts the death toll at 23, with scores more wounded. Previously, the death toll stood at 21.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, which followed threats to Egypt's Copts from the Al-Qaeda-linked group in Iraq that claimed an Oct. 31 attack on a Baghdad church.
Egypt's Christians, who make up 10 percent of the 80-million population, have been the target of several attacks and have repeatedly accused the authorities of systematic discrimination.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=353470
4 aug 2011, 09:22 , Respect -
Maria 29 jan 2011
Protests endanger Palestinians held by Egypt
GAZA, (PIC)-- As tensions rise high across Egypt, relatives of Palestinians held in Egyptian jails are expressing increasing concern.
The Abu Za'bel correctional facility, where a number of Palestinian political prisoners are being detained, has become a focus of danger.
Fire has erupted in warehouses neighboring the Cairo prison, said Emad al-Sayyid, the spokesman of the society of families of prisoners in Egyptian jails.
The Egyptian army and prison guards have also clashed with prisoners, killing eight and injuring several others, he told Quds Press.
Sayyid, who is brother to one of the prisoners there, has called on protesters and the army to free Palestinians detained by Egypt for political reasons.
Egypt holds about 25 of them. Courts have ruled for the release of some, but prisons have yet to implement.
http://bit.ly/i21d68
Palestinian security men deployed along border with Egypt
GAZA, (PIC)-- Palestinian security men were deployed on Saturday morning along the Gaza Strip borders with Egypt to secure the area in anticipation of any attempt to violate the borders in light of the deteriorating conditions in Egypt.
Local sources and eyewitnesses reported that the Palestinian security was on full alert along the borders, noting that the security men block anyone from approaching the border area.
Massive demonstrations hit the streets of Cairo and other cities in Egypt, including northern Sinai near the Gaza borders, demanding the toppling of the current regime. Clashes erupted between police forces and the demonstrators that resulted in tens of casualties.
http://bit.ly/dQEK0R
Abbas, his aides panicked over events in Egypt
RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- A senior Fatah official said de facto president Mahmoud Abbas and his aides were extremely confused and nervous last night about what was happening in Egypt and they made intensive phone calls with officials in Cairo and Washington to receive assurances.
The official added on condition of anonymity that Abbas and his entourage were in total disarray last night, but their tension was lessened a little when they saw on TV Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak giving a speech to his people.
The official quoted Tayeb Abdelrahim, the spokesman for Abbas, as saying on Friday night that if the Egyptian regime was gone, there would be no Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank.
He noted that the PA received US and Israeli assurances during the last 24 hours, but they were not enough to calm Abbas and Fatah officials who feel that the region is on the verge of radical changes.
Mubarak ordered his tanks on Friday onto Egypt's streets and gave a speech after midnight pledging to form a new government able to address the priorities in the coming period.
His speech came after massive protests took place throughout Egypt demanding him to end his 30-year rule of the country. The events reportedly claimed the lives of dozens of Egyptian citizens including two children and led to the injury of many others.
http://bit.ly/emxTp2
Israel fears radical takeover in Egypt
Extremist takeover in Egypt would put Israel in wholly different position, security official warns.
A fundamental change of government in Egypt may lead to a revolution in Israel's security doctrine, a defense official told Ynet Friday night, as protests against President Hosni Mubarak's rule continued to intensify.
The security official made it clear that Israel's peace treaty with Egypt constitutes an important strategic asset, which enables the IDF to focus on other theaters. The defense source said that the IDF would have to dedicate major resources in order to devote any attention to the Egyptian front as well.
It is no secret that the IDF focuses on certain theaters and earmarks most resources to them, the official said. The Egyptians are only addressed on the margins. We are holding discussions, including updates relevant to recent years, yet without a doubt Egypt is not considered a theater that requires attention.
Should a revolution indeed take place in Egypt, the rules of play will not necessarily change at once, the source added. It won't mean, heaven forbid, that Egypt would immediately turn into an enemy country, yet our attention would most certainly have to shift.
Advanced Egyptian army a threat?
Defense officials are closely monitoring developments in Israel's southern neighbor, considered the heart of the Arab world. The immediate Israeli concern has to do with possible developments on the Egypt-Gaza border, where Egyptian forces have been working intensely as of late to curb weapons smuggling. According to security officials, the riots currently raging across Egypt may have negative implications on its Gaza border.
Another concern voiced within Israel's defense establishment has to do with Egypt's advanced army, which includes thousands of tanks, hundreds of fighter jets, and dozens of vessels.
This is a Western army in every way and it enjoys US aid, one security official said. There is no doubt that should we see an extremist regime over there controlling such army, this will place Israel in a wholly different position.
There is no doubt that in the coming days, many eyes have to be monitoring Egypt. Later we'll make all the calculations as to the implications, the official said.
Earlier, an Israeli minister told Time Magazine that officials in Jerusalem believe President Hosni Mubarak will survive the current upheaval.
The cabinet member, who asked to remain anonymous, characterized recent events as an earthquake in the Middle East. His comments were made ahead of Friday's escalating riots and before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed his ministers to refrain from addressing the situation in Egypt.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4020585,00.html
Palestinians wait, watch events in Egypt
BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Palestinian officials in Ramallah offered no comment on the Friday events in Egypt, with attention still focused on the fallout of a series of reports detailing leaked information from over a decade of negotiations with Israel.
As tens of thousands took to the streets of Cairo, Alexandria, Suez, Mansoura and other population centers in Egypt calling for the ouster of the nation's president, thousands of Jordanians marched in Amman in support of the Egyptian people.
Friday protests in the West Bank towns of Bil'in, Ni'lin, An-Nabi Saleh and Al-Ma'sara, usually hotspots where frustration around local events is vented, continued to call for the removal of the Israeli separation wall, a stop to land confiscations and in Bi'in, protesters condemned the use of tear-gas which is believed to have caused the death of one protester earlier in the month.
In the Gaza Strip, Palestinians have been watching the unrest in Egypt attentively, and while civilians say they are pleased with the prospect of change, demonstrations in the north and southern Strip on Friday continued to focus on condemnation of the PA and PLO for comments made in leaked documents aired in a series of documentaries the week before.
With any change in Egypt likely to affect the Gaza population directly, with Egypt offering the only civilian crossing not controlled by Egypt and providing a small outlet for Israel's crippling siege on the coastal territory, Palestinians in Gaza saw the announcement of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak that he would replace the current government as a positive step.
On Saturday morning, Gaza residents were seen exchanging congratulations over the sacked government, and saying they hoped it reflected the first step towards a realization of Egyptian people's goals of removing Mubarak from his 30-year rule.
Gaza's Hamas-run government, like their compatriots in the West Bank, remained mum on the situation.
Throughout the morning, civilians have been hoping that the change in Egypt will mean an easing in access to the country. With Islamist movements in the country remaining the most popular, any free vote would likely see an influx of parties in support of Gaza taking power.
The subterranean steel wall installed in 2009 by the Egyptian government along the Gaza-Egypt border, crossings agreements signed with the PA and remaining unimplemented as the terminal remains restricted, and what people called the heavy restriction of Egypt in reactions to Israeli assaults on Gaza all seemed up for change as protests in Cairo continued.
Any change, Gazans agree, would see a betterment in relations with the Gaza government, likely at the cost of relations with Israel.
Former Israeli Foreign Minister "Tipzi Livni visited Egypt in the days before Israel launched its Operation Cast Lead," one shop keeper mused, "if the people get the government they want, this will not happen another time."
In Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu told his ministers to keep quiet on the events in Egypt, with security sources telling the local press that the situation was being closely monitored.
On Friday in Jerusalem, Israeli police and border guards deployed in large numbers, for fear that protests in neighboring Arab countries would be mirrored in the city. While security officials told Radio Israel at the time that no definitive intelligence about planned protests had been collected, police remained on high alert throughout the Palestinian quarters of the city.
Israel's daily newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported Friday, that a change in the Egyptian government could lead to a revolution in Israel's security doctrine, according to an official at the ministry of defense, who said a change in the terms of the peace between the nations could force the Israeli military to dedicate resources to a "new front."
It is no secret that the IDF focuses on certain theaters and earmarks most resources to them, the official was quoted as saying. The Egyptians are only addressed on the margins. We are holding discussions, including updates relevant to recent years, yet without a doubt Egypt is not considered a theater that requires attention.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=355196
Israeli embassy personnel flee Cairo
CAIRO, (PIC)-- News sources in Egypt said that the Israeli embassy personnel fled the embassy when a group of demonstrators passed near the Cairo University at the Geeza suburb.
The sources said that helicopters evacuated the embassy and took the personnel to an Egyptian air-base.
The Ambassador himself fled Egypt recently after the discovery by Egyptian security of a Mossad spy network in Cairo.
The embassy staff asked to be evacuated before the demonstrators reach the area despite the fact that it is situated on a high level of a tower building.
http://bit.ly/fKdti3
20 aug 2011, 08:55 , Respect -
Maria 30 jan 2011
Israelis fear gas crisis due to events in Egypt
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- Israel expressed fears that the delivery of 40 percent of gas supplies to its territories may stop as a result of continued events in Egypt.
Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper warned on Sunday of a new crisis in Israel if gas supplies from Egypt were suspended.
"Importing Egyptian gas is part of an economic benefits package signed by Israel and Egypt, which includes the qualifying industrial zones (QIZ) Agreement as well as the gas agreement. The package requires that Egypt buy equipment from Israeli companies and in return be duty free from US products," the newspaper stated.
Egypt supplies around 40 percent of Israel's gas consumption. The rest originates from a reservoir near Ashdod owned by Israel and the US. If the Egyptian gas delivery continues as agreed, the reservoir is expected to run out only by 2014.
Israeli officials also have started intensive contacts with the US administration to discuss the latest developments in Egypt and its repercussions on Israel's future.
http://bit.ly/eKY8t0
Palestinians stranded at Cairo airport without food, water
CAIRO (Ma'an) -- Palestinians students at universities in Egypt on Sunday appealed to President Mahmoud Abbas to facilitate their safe return.
Many students said they have been stranded at Cairo airport for several days.
Several airlines have canceled flights to Egypt as anti-government protests continue for a sixth day.
The US and Iraq have arranged flights to evacuate residents as hundreds of tourists flooded Egyptian airports attempting to flee the rising unrest.
Many students contacted Ma'an appealing to Abbas to urgently send planes to take them home.
They said phone calls to the Palestinian Embassy in Cairo went unanswered.
Student Seri Muhammad said Cairo International Airport was overflowing with stranded travelers trying to get home. "I am seeing airport workers who have not sleep for two days," he said.
Muhammad said he had no idea when he would be able to leave, and that even airline staff did not know when flights would resume.
"We are all waiting for the unknown. The airport has run out of water and food, you can't even find a packet of crisps, and now we can't leave the airport due to the curfew."
He told Ma'an he saw Egyptian forces deployed along the road to the airport, and residents carrying knives and axes to protect their homes from looting.
Muhammad said a group of looters had tried to break into his hotel on Saturday, but that hotel security and locals stopped them and defended the building.
Palestinian Ambassador to Egypt Barakat Al-Fara said the embassy had not been informed that any Palestinians were injured in Egypt, the official Palestinian Authority news agency WAFA reported.
Al-Fara advised concerned citizens to call the following numbers: 0129309930, 023338476, 023338476, 023338476, 0233384763.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=355659
Israeli analysts fear Islamic takeover in Egypt
By Steve Weizman
JERUSALEM (AFP) -- Israel's leaders anxiously watched events in Egypt on Sunday as analysts warned that if a new leadership was dominated by Islamists it could threaten 30 years of peace between the two neighbors.
As the wave of unprecedented protests continued to engulf Egypt, Israeli officials have been nervously eying developments and assessing the likely impact on ties.
"We are attentively following what is going on in Egypt and in our region," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday after holding late-night talks with US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
"Peace between Israel and Egypt has existed for more than three decades and our aim is to ensure that these relations continue to exist," he said.
Israel's two top-selling dailies ran the same banner headline on their front pages on Sunday, proclaiming "A New Middle East" and raising the specter of Islamic fundamentalists filling the political vacuum left by the expected end of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's autocratic rule.
"In this kind of chaotic situation, the advantage of groups like the Muslim Brotherhood is that they are the most organized and also the most resolute," said Benjamin Miller, a Haifa University expert on Middle East conflicts and security.
Even though Muslim Brotherhood activists had not so far been prominent in the demonstrations, the group had the advantage of having a widespread political infrastructure already in place, he said.
Israel, which is already facing hostile Islamic groups in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, is deeply concerned at the prospect of Islamic gains in Egypt, with which it shares its longest border.
But aware of the hypersensitivity of Israel's relations with the Arab world, Netanyahu ordered his cabinet ministers to make no public statements on the issue, a move which Miller said was wise.
"Interference in the domestic affairs of another state is always sensitive, especially if it's an Arab state, especially if it's the most important Arab state," Miller said.
"Definitely Israel is not an asset for any group. Israel is not a winning card domestically."
Writing in the top-selling daily Yedioth Aharonot, Eli Shaked, a former Israeli ambassador to Cairo, said that if free elections were held in Egypt the outcome would be inevitable.
"The most likely result will be that the Muslim Brotherhood will win a majority and will be the dominant force in the next government, he said.
"That is why it is only a question of a brief period of time before Israel's peace with Egypt pays the price."
Egypt became the first Arab nation to make peace with Israel in 1979, having fought three costly wars with Israel since it was founded in 1948, but relations remain largely cool.
In 1994 Jordan became the second and so far the last Arab state to make formal peace with Israel.
"If the Muslim Brotherhood is going to win and become the dominant group, obviously there will be a major deterioration in Egyptian-Israeli relations," Miller said.
"It doesn't mean that there will be a war immediately or in the foreseeable future -- even the Muslim Brotherhood shares some interests in avoiding war," he added.
"But all this pro-Western, anti-Iranian coalition of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Israel will be undermined."
However, Yoram Meital, of Ben Gurion University in southern Israel, told AFP that a victory for the Muslim Brotherhood should not be seen as a foregone conclusion.
While they dominated opposition to Mubarak's draconian regime, a more open political system could engender a different kind of politics, he said.
"What I read is that within a very short time we will get a different political context," he said.
"In this context, other sectors -- including the silent majority of the Egyptian people -- would play a significant role."
Meital suggested there could be a future alliance between the Brotherhood and Mohamed ElBaradei, the Nobel laureate and former UN chief nuclear inspector who has emerged as a dissident leader in his homeland.
"Dr ElBaradei initiated a dialogue, a very constructive one, with the leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt about six months ago and in recent days they coordinated some of their moves," he added.
"I would not exclude the possibility that if [presidential] elections take place in Egypt, the Brotherhood would not nominate someone from their ranks but would support someone like Baradei."
On Sunday, Egypt's National Coalition for Change that groups the Brotherhood and other opposition movements charged ElBaradei with negotiating with Mubarak's embattled regime, Islamist leader Saad al-Katatni told AFP in Cairo.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=355679
PM: Peace with Egypt must continue
Netanyahu tells cabinet he is working to maintain stability in region on backdrop of violent uprising. 'We are closely monitoring the situation,' he says.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel was "closely monitoring" the violent protests in Egypt and the government changes the popular uprising forced on President Hosni Mubarak.
"I spoke yesterday with (US) President Obama, (US Secretary of State) Hillary Clinton, the defense minister, the foreign minister and all intelligence officials," the prime minister said at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting.
"Our efforts center on maintaining the stability in our region. Our peace with Egypt has continued for more than three decades and it is our goal to ensure that these relations will continue with any possible development in Egypt."
Netanyahu instructed his ministers to avoid commenting on the matter due to its sensitivity. "At this time we must practice the maximal restraint and discretion," he said.
He addressed German Chancellor Angela Merkel's expected visit on Monday, along with her cabinet ministers. "We are talking about one of the most important countries in the continent, and during the visit we will naturally discuss the recent developments in the region."
Former Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer told Ynet on Saturday evening that "there is no alternative for Mubarak." Ben-Eliezer, who is considered the Israeli with the closet ties to President Mubarak, said "this is a serious situation, although the Egyptian leadership foresaw it and was prepared for it."
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4021041,00.html
Palestinians: Fall of Egyptian regime will accelerate end to Abbas
RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- Palestinians crowd TV sets to tune in on the latest in nationwide protests demanding the ousting of longtime Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Many who our correspondents met with said outcomes in Egypt will have an impact on the West Bank and Gaza Strip, not only because of the geographical proximity, but also because of political ties.
A curse from Gaza
"What is happening to the Egyptian regime is a curse from inaction with the suffering of the Palestinians in Gaza," said Abu Maheeb, a West Bank shop owner.
"The siege, hunger and death brought to the Gaza Strip by the regime is being recompensed at the hands of the Egyptians," he added.
"What is happening is an answer to the prayers of widows and orphans who have been left homeless by the regime's ban on construction materials and medicines."
"The removal of the regime will remove the tragedy and siege of Gaza, Allah willing."
An accomplice in abductions
Umm Khaldoon, whose son had been sentenced to years in PA security prisons, expressed joy over the Egyptian protests.
"The Egyptian regime played a major role in supporting the PA security militias, which have abducted and tortured our people," she said.
"The regime backed the resolve of the Abbas authority and militias when brokering reconciliation issues during disputes between Fatah and Hamas," she said.
"The end of the unjust regime in Egypt will accelerate the end of the Abbas authority and militias," she went on to say.
Abu Mohammed Ishtayeh, a taxi driver, said as he follows details of the Egyptian revolution he is reminded of the first Palestinian Intifada (uprising) in 1987. He expressed admiration for the Egyptians and their discipline in maintaining their rights.
"The Palestinians taught the world to rise up against injustice. Their turn will come to rise against Abbas and his unjust militias."
http://bit.ly/htSXyM
Analysts: Developing events in Egypt affect the Palestinian cause
GAZA, (PIC)-- Political analysts agreed that any developments on the events in Egypt would directly affect the course of the Palestinian cause, expressing hope that everything would end up positively for the Palestinians and Egyptians.
Analyst Waleed Al-Mudallal said in a press statement to the Palestinian information center (PIC) that the Egyptian situation is linked to the Palestinian situation and greatly influence each other.
"There is no doubt that Egypt moves in parallel with the Palestinian struggle movement and the reconciliation and will leave a big and direct impact on the nature of relationship, so the relations with Palestine is quite sensitive to those who rule Egypt as it represents a lever for the Palestinian cause," Mudallal said.
He expressed hope that Egypt would resume taking its role in supporting the Palestinian cause, and be an asset to and not a burden on the national movement in Palestine.
For his part, analyst and journalist Wisam Afifa opined that the repercussions of events in Egypt would be on the entire region and overturn balances and alliances upside down.
Afifa stressed that the Palestinian cause is always a core issue and any changes and new moves in the region will directly affect it.
In the same context, head of the Muslim brotherhood in Egypt Mohamed Badi'a stated that what is happening in Egypt is a peaceful popular uprising rejecting injustice and demanding freedom and comprehensive reform.
"The Muslim brotherhood is part and parcel of the noble Egyptian people, and it sincerely salutes and appreciates the free young men and people of Egypt all over the country for their blessed peaceful uprising, and their national role and honorable performance in protecting the public and private institutions and property," Badi'a said in a press release on Saturday.
Head of the international union for Muslim scholars Sheikh Yousuf Al-Qaradawi, for his part, slammed Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak for his irresponsible speech on Friday and called on him to leave Egypt on foot.
"There is no solution to this problem other than the departure of Mubarak who must leave the Egyptian people freedom of choice," Sheikh Qaradawi told Al-Jazeera channel on Saturday.
http://bit.ly/hraP6e
Palestinian detainee in Egyptian jail arrives in Gaza
GAZA, (PIC)-- Hassan Yousef Wishah returned to his home in Breij refugee camp, in central Gaza Strip, at dawn Sunday after three years of imprisonment in Egyptian jails.
He said on arrival that all Palestinian detainees in Abu Za'bal jail had gone out of it.
The ex-detainee added that many Egyptian political prisoners were killed in the same jail when Egyptian security personnel fired at them.
Wishah, who was serving a ten-year sentence in Egyptian jails, said that he experienced harsh torture rounds and suffered a lot during his three years of incarceration.
http://bit.ly/hDnMKW
State media: Abbas contacts Egyptian president
RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- President Mahmoud Abbas contacted his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak on Saturday, state media said.
President Abbas affirmed the Palestinian leadership's support for Egyptian security and stability, Abbas was quoted as saying.
Embattled Hosni Mubarak tapped Egypt's military intelligence chief as his first-ever vice president and named a new premier on Saturday, as a mass revolt against his autocratic rule raged into a fifth day.
Fresh riots in several cities on Saturday left three protesters dead in Cairo and three police in the Sinai town of Rafah, bringing to at least 51 the number of people killed nationwide since the angry protests first erupted on Tuesday.
As tens of thousands flooded central Cairo demanding Mubarak's ouster, the president late Saturday afternoon went into crisis talks with officials, after which it was announced that career army man and Mubarak confidante General Omar Suleiman had been sworn in as his deputy.
Suleiman, 75, is chief of military intelligence and a well-known player on the world scene. He has spearheaded years of Egyptian efforts to encourage an eventual Israeli-Palestinian peace deal and of mediating internal Palestinian disputes.
Demonstrators have dismissed the 82-year-old president's vague promises of political and economic reform as too little, too late and were not impressed with Suleiman's appointment.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=355368
21 aug 2011, 11:22 , Respect -
Maria 31 jan 2011
Palestinians unafraid of impact of Egypt unrest
RAMALLAH (AFP) -- Palestinian officials monitored the unrest in Egypt closely on Sunday, but expressed no worry that it might shift Cairo's position on the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
"The Palestinian leadership is following what is going on in Egypt step-by-step," Azzam Al-Ahmad, a senior Fatah official within the Palestinian Legislative Council, told reporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
"We are looking at all the details, but we are not afraid that the developments will affect the Palestinian issue," he said, referring to Egypt's stance on the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
Ahmad, who has been closely involved in Egypt's attempts to broker a truce between Fatah and its Islamist rival Hamas, said the leadership was hoping the situation would stabilize.
"We hope that stability will return to Egypt soon. We respect whatever the Egyptians will decide, but we condemn all the looting," he said, referring to an outbreak of theft and vandalism amid the unrest in Egypt.
Police on Sunday prevented around 50 Palestinian teenagers from protesting in front of the Egyptian embassy in Ramallah. They also closed off the area to prevent photographers from covering the gathering.
A Palestinian official told AFP that political groups had agreed not to hold any rallies without a permit.
Ahmad appeared unconcerned that Egypt's main opposition movement, the banned Muslim Brotherhood, would rise to prominence and fill any political void should President Hosni Mubarak's regime collapse.
"I don't think the Muslim Brotherhood will take over in Egypt," Ahmad said. "I'm very confident that the result will be whatever the Egyptian people need. We respect the Egyptian people's choice."
Samir Awad, an expert on Arab societies at Birzeit University near Ramallah thought Mubarak's ouster unlikely.
"I don't think that the Egyptian regime will fail because throughout history, the Egyptian system has been strong," he told AFP. "It's not likely to fail like in Tunisia."
He added: "Egypt is a very important state for the Palestinians. If the regime in Egypt fails, it will harm the Palestinian cause."
Hamas -- a Muslim Brotherhood offshoot -- and Fatah are longtime rivals. Their enmity deepened after the Islamist movement won elections in 2006 and, a year later, seized control of the Gaza Strip.
Two Hamas prisoners who broke out of a Cairo prison amid this week's turmoil arrived back in Gaza on Sunday, with six others also on their way, official sources and one of the escapees said.
By Sunday morning, at least two of the inmates from Abu Zaabal prison had made it back to Gaza, entering through tunnels running under the border, a Palestinian official said on condition of anonymity.
Officially, the Rafah crossing between southern Gaza and Egypt was closed on Sunday, a Palestinian official told AFP, adding that Egyptian border personnel were no longer at their posts.
Razi Hamad, head of the crossing within the Hamas government, said the border would most likely be shut for "several days" depending on developments in Egypt, where often violent protests entered their sixth day.
Gazans were stockpiling fuel on Sunday over fears that supplies from Egypt, which are smuggled in through tunnels, could be halted by the unrest in that country, witnesses said.
Witnesses in Rafah said the daily passage of goods through the cross-border tunnels had ground to a halt since Friday as political unrest reached the Egyptian half of the border-straddling city.
Most gasoline and diesel in Gaza comes through the tunnels, but the Hamas-run ministry of economy said there was no shortage and called for an end to panic-buying.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=355770
PA: Palestinian patients in Egypt are safe
RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- The Palestinian Authority Heath Ministry said Monday that Palestinian patients receiving treatment in Egypt were safe, as anti-government protests in the country continued for a seventh day.
Ministry spokesman Omar An-Naser said 30 Palestinian patients had completed their treatment but were unable to return due to the closure of the Rafah crossing.
The ministry had provided them with apartments, he said.
An-Naser added that two patients remained in intensive care in Egyptian hospitals.
Medical advisor at the Palestinian embassy in Cairo Hussam Touqan said the Palestinian community in Egypt was safe. He said concerned relatives could contact the embassy at +20-2-333 8476.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=355825
Egypt unrest good for Palestine?
BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israel seems worried by the emerging unrest in more than one Arab country, fearing it may result in the creation of antagonist regimes which could end Israel's announced and unannounced agreements.
If the regime of Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak falls, Israel would lose a major advantageous factor which has been helping successive Israeli governments with their stubborn stance toward the question of Palestine.
While some Palestinian political analysts believe change in Arab countries will not have any negative impact on the question of Palestine, others think Israel might take advantage of the collapse. They believe Israel will show more inflexibility under the pretext that instability in the Arab world is a threat to Israel.
Palestinian lawmaker Hanan Ashrawi says unrest in Egypt will not harm the question of Palestine even if it ends in toppling the current regime.
"The relationship between Egypt and Palestine is basically between peoples of both countries rather than one of mutual interests between regimes," she says.
"Any regime which will rule in Egypt will necessarily be loyal to the question of Palestine if it is loyal to its people in Egypt."
Politically speaking, Ashrawi added, Egypt is the largest and more influential Arab country where security is correlated with that in Palestine because of the geographic factor.
However, she highlighted that Israel was worried and would think a million times of the unrest in Egypt because of the peace agreement as well as economic agreements between both countries.
The real danger, according to Ashrawi, is that Israel will take advantage and show more adamancy not to give up an inch of land it occupies, particularly Palestinian land.
They will request more military support from Israel's major ally, the US, under the pretext that regimes in Arab countries might collapse at any moment which will be real threat to Israel's existence.
Talal Aukal, a Palestinian analyst, believes the situation in Egypt could affect Palestine one of two ways.
If the current regime remains along with all previous treaties, the influence will be negative as there will be no more pressure on Israel. However, if the regime is toppled, any new regime will never adopt the same previous policies towards Israel.
Israel, added Aukal, will eventually regret wasting so much time without accepting a deal while the whole region is expected to witness a series of revolutions similar to Tunis and Egypt.
Fatah leader Azzam Al-Ahmad insists the Palestinians have no right to "intervene" in Egyptian affairs.
Egyptian support to Palestine will not change because the Egyptians have been supporting Palestine both at official and popular levels, and they were of the leading Arab peoples who sacrificed martyrs for Palestine.
He added, We respect the choices the Egyptian people make and will never intervene in their affairs as much as we refuse any external intervention in Egyptian or other Arab countries affairs.
Nimir Hammad, one of president's aides, says he can't anticipate what will happen in Egypt.
However, he believes support to Palestine will be a priority in Egypt regardless of who rules the country because security matters in both countries are correlated and what happens in one country affects the other.
We monitor the situation in Cairo worriedly fearing the idea of neoconservatives in the US is being adopted in Egypt, which means chaos creates a new system, he said.
Deputy speaker of the Palestinian parliament Hasan Khreisha noted that the unrest in Tunis and Egypt marked the beginning of change in the Arab world. However, he warned of chaos which might deprive the genuine popular movements toward a better future.
He highlighted that the US and other international powers would endeavor to frustrate popular movements and prevent them from achieving the desired change.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=355733
More Palestinians escape Egypt prisons
Four more Palestinians who were held in an Egyptian prison returned to the Gaza Strip on Sunday.
Mu'tasem Al-Quka, jailed than seven years in Abu Za'bal prison, said, I was detained while I was on my way to Egypt, on the accusations that I am an affiliate in Hamas movement.
He added he did not know at first the charge against him was but later told it was for being a member of a movement banned in Egypt.
Al-Quka stressed that he was ill-treated in Egyptian prisons especially in Abu Za'bal prison. He said that the prisoners were able to flee the prison as the Egyptians demolished its walls.
He said many Palestinians were with him in the prison, eight of them from Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
A spokesman for prisoners held in Egypt, Imad As-Sayyid, identified the four who escaped from Abu Za'bal as Mu'tasem Al-Quka, Omar Sha'th, Muhammad Abdul Hadi, and Kom'a At-Talha.
The prisoners made their escape when thousands broke out of jails across Egypt amid an absence of police and chaos sparked by nationwide riots demanding the end of Hosni Mubarak's regime.
Among those who returned Sunday was Mohammed Al-Shaer, a big name on the cross-border smuggling scene, arrested six months ago, and Hassan Washah, who served three years of a 10-year term for unspecified security offenses.
Other prisoners were said to have reached Egypt's port city of El-Arish and were expected to reach Gaza later, official sources said.
Although they managed to enter by tunnel, most other movement of goods ground to a halt on Sunday, sparking fears of a fuel shortage in the Israeli-blockaded territory.
Abu Abed Alwahab, a Hamas border guard, said, however, that tunnel workers were being allowed into the frontier zone. "Our mission is to protect the border," he said.
"We prevent anyone from coming near, except for some workers in the tunnels."
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=355767
22 aug 2011, 19:24 , Respect -
Maria 1 febr 2011
Palestinian media mum on Egypt protests
By Nasser Lahham
Silence prevailed, from the Palestinian Authority, the government in Gaza, the factions and the people; all kept a safe distance from the Egyptian hot potato for fear that coming out on the wrong side would impact their future.
As with Lebanon and Tunis, the shadow of former President Yasser Arafat's strong support of Saddam Hussein when he invaded Kuwait still hangs long over Palestinian foreign policy. For Arafat's support in the 1990s, Palestinians were expelled from the gulf states, had properties seized and accounts frozen. For a people who helped build the gulf, support of the wrong regime saw a second home become unwelcoming.
The Palestinian press looked like a joke. Wafa News Agency had not a word about Egypt, as if nothing were happening. Palestine TV broadcast comedies as other stations aired footage of thousands in Cairo streets. Young Palestinians in the blogosphere and on social networking sites took notice.
Jerusalem-based newspaper Al-Hayah Al-Jadidah's coverage of Egypt seemed to say "We swear to God we have nothing to do with what is going on in Egypt."
While Al-Ayyam ran the front page with a large photo of Egyptian protests and a brief story saying "Egypt witnesses a state of chaos."
But while official silence has become the norm, Palestinians are watching events closely. In every home, in every coffee house and in every shop, those stations covering the events in Egypt play ceaselessly.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=355890
25 aug 2011, 16:16 , Respect -
Maria 2 febr 2011
Report: Four Israeli reporters arrested in Egypt
Foreign Ministry officials in contact with counterparts in Egypt for release of reporters arrested for violating curfew in Cairo; CNN's Anderson Cooper, other foreign journalists attacked during clashes.
Four Israeli reporters have been arrested in Egypt as anti-government riots turned violent after eight days of peaceful protests, Israel Radio reported on Wednesday.
According to foreign media the four were arrested for violating the curfew in Egypt's capital as well as entering the country with tourist visas instead of work visas.
According to Israel Radio, three of the reporters work for Channel 2 news and the fourth reporter writes for an Arabic-language news portal based in Nazareth.
The Foreign Ministry has reportedly been in contact with the Egyptian authorities for their release.
"We call on all Israeli reporters arriving in Cairo to remain alert, act responsibility and honor the place's rules," the statement issued by the Foreign Ministry said.
Also on Wednesday, foreign journalists were caught in the Cairo clashes. CNN's Anderson Cooper and two Associated Press correspondents were roughed up in the crowd.
Cooper says he and his crew were attacked by supporters of President Hosni Mubarak on Wednesday. CNN later said no one was seriously hurt.
Two Associated Press correspondents and several other journalists were roughed up during gatherings of Mubarak supporters. European papers reported that a Belgian journalist was also beaten, detained and accused of spying by unidentified people in civilian clothes.
In recent days, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked U.S. President Barack Obama and a number of other Western leaders to make it clear to any new Egyptian regime that it must abide fully by the peace agreement with Israel.
Senior Israeli officials said that Netanyahu would like the international community to make it clear to any new Egyptian leadership that will emerge that it must meet a series of conditions in return for receiving legitimacy in the eyes of the West - similar to those posed to Hamas following the Islamist movement's victory in Palestinian elections.
http://bit.ly/dWprvZ
'US policy hinges on Israel interests'
A US political expert say Washington adopts its policies regarding the countries in the Middle East based on the interest of its closest Mideast ally, Israel.
"The US policy in the Middle East, particularly in Egypt, is planned according to the consequences which would affect Israel," Dr. Aly el-Kabbany said in an interview with Press TV.
Since 1979, the United States has annually given Egypt an average of $2 billion with $1.3 billion going to Cairo's military force, according to the US Congressional Research Service.
Egypt was also the first Arab country to buy US-made F-16s, viewed as a symbol of strong political and security ties with the United States.
The United States has its own version of democracy, tailor-made to favor its stake in the Middle Eastern oil sector and to keep Israel on top, Kabbany emophasized.
Egypt's main opposition group, Muslim Brotherhood, has urged the United States and its Western allies to stop supporting President Hosni Mubarak.
Muslim Brotherhood said the US should instead back the Egyptian people, adding that the US approach towards the Egyptian uprising would be decisive for the future of Cairo-Washington relations.
Egypt witnessed on Wednesday the ninth day of unprecedented protests against the three-decade authoritarian rule of Mubarak. At least 300 people have died since the demonstrations began, according to an estimate by the United Nations.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/163324.html
Israel phobic about Muslim Brotherhood sharing power in Egypt
From Khalid Amayreh in Ramallah
Israeli leaders have been panicking at the prospects of Egyptian Islamists, especially the powerful Muslim Brotherhood, reaching or sharing power in any post-Mubarak arrangements in Cairo.
The massive protests in Egypt, demanding the ouster of President Husni Mubarak and his pro-western regime have taken Israel by surprise as Israel's foreign intelligence service, the Mossad, utterly failed to anticipate the popular revolution.
The harsh repression of Islamist forces by tyrannical Arab regimes has always been received with overwhelming acceptance and comfort in Israel.
Similarly, Israel, a regime based on the principle of Jewish supremacy, consistently advocated the adoption of Stalinist and even Nazi-like measures in dealing with Islamist political groups and movements opposed to the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
In recent days, Israeli officials, including prime minister Benyamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres have been lecturing foreign visitors about the wisdom of outlawing extremist religious groups from taking part in democracy.
Speaking after receiving the credentials of several ambassadors this week, Peres praised President Mubarak despite the tyrannical and thuggish nature of his regime.
Peres, a certified war criminal himself, argued that the West ought to back dictatorial regimes throughout the Arab world since they keep what he called Islamic fundamentalism at bay.
Netanyahu, whose government includes the largest number ever of Jewish religious fanatics who can be compared with Nazi ideologues with regard to Jewish supremacy and racism, told visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel that he feared the emergence in Egypt of an Iran-like regime.
"Our real fear is a situation that could develop and which has really developed in several countries including Iran itself, repressive regimes of radical Islam."
Netanyahu, a pathological liar by every standard of imagination, was totally oblivious of the fact that the country at whose helm he stands is classified as the most or one of the most repressive countries on earth.
It is a country that rains White Phosphorus on innocent children in Gaza and drops millions of cluster bomblets on Southern Lebanon, enough to kill and maim millions of children.
It is a country that demolished homes of innocent people by the thousands, occasionally right on top of dwellers' heads.
It is a country which a former Israeli soldier has described as "an embodiment of devil which even the Nazis themselves can learn from." Hence, one would wonder how such a country can lecture the rest of the world about democracy, freedom and human rights.
Predictably, Israel pays no attention to the fate and wellbeing of some 80 million Egyptians. For this criminal entity, the people of this great Arab nation may be savaged, tormented, humiliated, and even crushed in both body and spirit. The paramount thing for this self-absorbed "nation" of settlers and land thieves is always Israel's vital interests which can be maintained only by a Mubarak-style dictator that pays no attention to his country's and people's interests.
Now, al hamdullilah, thank God, the Egyptian masses have said to Mubarak "enough is enough."
This should mean that Egypt's illegitimate and vastly-prolonged honey moon with Israel must come to an end sooner than later; it should mean that Egypt will now have to return to its original and dignified self; it means that Mubarak's Egypt is over for good.
As to the Islamists, their role in the revolution can't be denied, being an original part of the Egyptian nation. After all, they bore the brunt of the Mubarak regime's oppression and repression for nearly 30 years. Therefore, it is time they receive some of the rewards of their enduring struggle, patience and sacrifices.
Israel and the United States will continue to bark like mad dogs in a desperate effort to deprive the Islamists of their inherent right to enjoy full political rights like the rest of the people.
But the Islamists and other free-minded people in Egypt should strongly reject these condescending and provocative attitudes that urge for excluding the Islamists from any post-Mubarak political arrangements.
The Muslim Brotherhood has labored for this day for so long, languishing in the regime's dungeons and cells and suffering the oppression of periodic detentions just to keep them away from the eyes of the public.
Hence, Israel must understand that Egypt is not the West Bank where Jewish Nazism can have a free season on people affiliated with Hamas for no just purpose other than appeasing Zionist sadism and vindictiveness.
The post-Mubarak regime would have to make a full departure from all the treasonous policies espoused by Mubarak and his cohorts toward Hamas and the people of Gaza.
Mubarak colluded and cooperated with Israel to savage, starve and kill Gazans and narrow their horizons.
His regime's behavior prior during and after Israel's Nazi-like onslaught on Gaza in2008-2009 was an indelible mark of shame in the entire Arab history, past and present.
Hence, the new regime in Egypt would have to do what it takes to make millions of Egyptians, Arabs, and Muslims around the world forget the painful memories of Mubarak's connivance and collaboration with the Nazis of our time who drank Muslim blood in Gaza until they had their fill.
http://bit.ly/dS2ZTp
Peres: Democracy in Egypt would bring Islamists to power
RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- Israeli president Shimon Peres has warned of the events in Egypt and their impact on stability in the Middle East.
Peres expressed deep concern that democracy in Egypt might bring about victory for the Islamic forces. The world should learn of what happened in 2006 when it started with democracy then Hamas took over power, he said.
He said during a meeting with visiting German chancellor Angela Merkel that democratic elections brought Hamas to rule.
For her part, Israeli opposition leader Tzipi Livini expressed concern that the US backing of the democratic process would lead to emergence of "parties that do not respect democracy".
http://bit.ly/h5bXXZ
Israel pulls down flag at Cairo embassy
CAIRO, (PIC)-- As nationwide protests demanding Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's immediate ouster flare up, the Israeli embassy has taken down its flag.
Eyewitnesses told Quds Press that while they were approaching the Cairo University bridge they noticed the flag once waving above the embassy was completely removed leaving an empty pole there.
The Egyptian army has tightened security on the Israeli embassy, Quds Press's correspondent said. The armed forces have provided security to embassies across Egypt in the wake of the protests that have killed and injured hundreds and pushed police out of the street.
http://bit.ly/gr0Gpy
Mofaz: Israel's greatest fear is the Islamic takeover in Egypt
NAZARETH, (PIC)-- Knesset member for Kadima party Shaul Mofaz described several possible scenarios for the events in Egypt in light of the popular uprising demanding Hosni Mubarak to step down.
Mofaz said that Mubarak may insist on curbing his people, especially since the protests have no organized leadership.
He added that in case Mubarak managed to end the protests, he would call for general elections in September, pointing that Israel prefers this scenario.
The second scenario, according to him, is that the Egyptian army could take control over the country and the last scenario is Israel's greatest fear represented in the removal of Mubarak and the Muslim brotherhood's takeover in Egypt.
For his part, head of the US foreign relations council Richard Haas said that the days of Mubarak are numbered and he has to give up power.
Haas added that there are several scenarios if Mubarak lost power including that his deputy Omar Suleiman might take his place or another interim president would be declared as a prelude to changing the constitution.
Many European newspapers also unanimously said that the regime of Mubarak started to fall apart.
In this regard, president Mubarak in a televised speech at night Tuesday tried to absorb the anger of the Egyptian people and declared he would not run for another presidential term.
Mubarak's words were unlikely to carry much weight with the protesters at Cairo's Attahrir square, who kept calling on him to leave power.
Shortly after his speech, clashes broke out between pro-Mubarak, who are believed to be members of the security in civilian clothes, and anti-regime protesters in Alexandria, according to Al-Jazeera satellite channel.
http://bit.ly/e0q7rq
26 aug 2011, 10:20 , Respect -
Maria 3 febr 2011
To Maintain/Strengthen Peace with Egypt, we Must End Occupation; Make Peace with Palestinians
Adam Keller - Gush Shalom - Only one who lost all basic human feeling can oppose the aspiration of masses of Egyptians, young and old, men and woman, secular and religious, Muslims and Christians, to live in a democracy and enjoy the basic rights which citizens of Israel take for granted - the right to freely express their opinions, to organize politically as they as they please and to freely elect their government and parliament.
It is in the supreme interest of the State of Israel that in its neighboring countries a real democracy will prevail, a democracy growing from below out of the dreams and aspirations and determined by thousands and millions of people.
Already for many years the peace between Israel and Egypt is a cold peace, a peace without a soul, a peace with the regime and not with the Egyptian people. This; for a clear and manifest reason - the continued occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people by Israel.
In his historic speech in the Knesset thirty-three years ago, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat called for an end the occupation and peace between Israel and the Palestinians, seeking to bring down the psychological walls separating the two peoples. Successive Israeli governments chose instead to continue a brutal repression of the Palestinians, thus re-erected these walls ever higher.
From the Sabra and Shatila Massacre, perpetrated a bare few months after the completion of Israeli withdrawal from Sinai, to the bombing and mass killing in Gaza during the "Cast Lead" war, Egyptian citizens have witnessed on their screens scenes of horror which made them regard their country's peace with Israel as a disgusting phenomenon.
At this moment, the struggle going on in the streets of Egyptian cities is mainly directed inwards, aimed at a deep change in the regime and society, and relations with Israel play only a marginal part in it. Only by long last ending the occupation and reaching peace with the Palestinians can Israel preserve and even strengthen the peace with Egypt, under whatever government and regime emerge from the current popular struggle.
http://bit.ly/eNWXZe
Barak: Mubarak's era has gone
NAZARETH, (PIC)-- Israeli war minister Ehud Barak said that the era of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak has gone.
He was quoted by the Hebrew radio on Wednesday evening as saying that this fact (Mubrak's removal) would have impacts on Israel on the long run.
Current events in Egypt, which is witnessing an uprising against the rule of Mubarak, do not need immediate action (on the part of Israel), he elaborated.
The minister said that Israel should adopt a number of "special measures" in the few coming weeks.
http://bit.ly/eeoSHk
ElBaradei: No hostility to Israel
Leading Egyptian opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei
Leading Egyptian opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei has pledged that Egypt will not be hostile to Israel after President Hosni Mubarak leaves power.
The hype that once Egypt becomes a democracy, it will become hostile to the US and hostile to Israel - I mean, these are the two hypes and are fictions, ElBaradei told CBS News on Wednesday.
Millions of Egyptians have taken to the streets across the crisis-hit country since January 25, demanding that Mubarak step down.
The unprecedented protests have sparked concerns over a possible energy crisis in Israel given the prospects of a new, Islamic government in Egypt, which supplies some 40 percent of Israel's natural gas.
A report by the United Nations says at least 300 people have so far been killed and thousands more injured during the protests.
Meanwhile, the International Network for Rights and Development said that three Israeli planes landed at Cairo's Mina International Airport on Saturday, carrying equipment for use in dispersing and suppressing large crowds, a Press TV correspondent reported.
According to the report, Egyptian security forces received the cargo on three Israeli planes, which were allegedly carrying a large supply of internationally proscribed gas to disperse crowds.
Israel has also allowed Egypt to deploy its troops to the Sinai Peninsula despite a bilateral agreement, under which Egypt has been only allowed to station police forces in the region.
Tel Aviv said the move was to help Cairo prevent a revolution in Egypt, where people have been protesting Mubarak's regime for ten consecutive days despite warnings and the precautionary deployment of the army.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/163350.html
Israel arms Egypt against protesters
Egyptian police have used tear gas and water cannon to break up rare anti-government protests in the capital.
Reports say Israel has sent crowd dispersal weapons to the Egyptian regime to curb massive protests against President Hosni Mubarak's 30 years of authoritarian rule.
The International Network for Rights and Development said that three Israeli planes landed at Cairo's Mina International Airport on Saturday, carrying equipment for use in dispersing and suppressing large crowds, a Press TV correspondent reported.
According to the report, Egyptian security forces received the cargo on three Israeli planes, which were allegedly carrying a large supply of internationally proscribed gas to disperse crowds.
Egyptians have taken to the streets across the country for eight days running, demanding that Mubarak step down.
The uprising has prompted Mubarak to appoint his first-ever vice president and a new prime minister in a desperate attempt to retain power.
But his response has, so far, failed to appease angry demonstrators, who have vowed to remain on the streets until Mubarak's resignation.
The unprecedented protests have sparked concerns over a possible energy crisis in Israel given the prospects of a new, Islamic government in Egypt, which supplies some 40 percent of Israel's natural gas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed his cabinet ministers in a public statement on Sunday, highlighting the significance of Tel Aviv's ties with Cairo and that Israel is "following the events unfolding in Egypt and the region with vigilance."
"I remind you that peace between the Israeli establishment and Egypt has endured for over three decades we currently strive to guarantee the continuity of these relations," he noted.
Meanwhile, Israel has allowed Egypt to deploy its troops to the Sinai Peninsula despite a bilateral agreement, under which Egypt has been only allowed to station police forces in the region.
Tel Aviv said the move was to help Cairo prevent a revolution in Egypt, where people have been protesting Mubarak's regime for eight consecutive days despite warnings and the precautionary deployment of the army.
A report by the United Nations says at least 300 people have so far been killed and thousands more injured during the protests.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/163052.html
Rights group: Egypt must investigate prison violence
GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Egyptian authorities should investigate claims from escaped Palestinian prisoners that prison guards in Egypt used unnecessary lethal force during a prison break, a statement from Human Rights Watch said Wednesday.
The group asked that the wounded receive treatment, and that the names and whereabouts of all those who escaped be published, particularly those who have been killed or wounded.
At least six Palestinians imprisoned in Egypt returned to Gaza in the past week after thousands broke out of jails across the country amid a police vaccume and chaos sparked by nationwide riots demanding the end of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's regime.
Human Rights Watch said one prisoner described heavy shooting during an escape from the Abu Zabaal prison, near Egypt's Libyan border.
As Egyptians protest against decades of abuses by Mubarak's security forces, new atrocities should not be taking place, said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. The authorities need to investigate and not use unnecessary lethal force against prisoners.
Omar Shaath, a resident of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, told Human Rights Watch that Egyptian authorities detained him in January 2010 when he tried to enter the Rafah border crossing into the Gaza Strip. He was held without charge for more than a year under Egypt's emergency law on suspicion of being affiliated with the Jaish Al-Islam in Egypt.
On the afternoon of January 28, 2011, Shaath said, prisoners in the criminal wing of the Abu Zabaal prison began burning food supplies and attempting to escape.
Before the recent uprising in Egypt, defense lawyers and human rights groups there estimated that approximately 5,000 people were in long-term detention without charge or trial under the emergency law, some for more than a decade.
Shaath described a chaotic scene as prison guards in a watchtower opened fire on him and other detainees on the third floor of a separate section of the prison as they tried to break through the iron bars and metal mesh on their windows.
Other prisoners were already out of their cells in the prison yard, and when I waved to get their attention, a guard shot at me, Shaath said. The guards kept firing when the other prisoners saw us trying to get out and began helping us tear down the windows.
Prison guards used large amounts of teargas as well, according to Shaath, but it is not clear if they first resorted to less lethal means of controlling the prisoners before opening fire with live ammunition.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=356584
Foreign Ministry seeks release of Israeli jailed in Egypt
Ministry officials said it was not yet clear why the Israeli had been in Suez in the first place, calling the matter particularly sensitive.
The Foreign Ministry was working intensively Thursday to secure the release of an Israeli who had been arrested by Egyptian security forces in the city of Suez during anti-government demonstrations there.
Ministry officials said it was not yet clear why the Israeli had been in Suez in the first place, calling the matter particularly sensitive. The ministry said it was working on a number of tracks to see him freed from detention as quickly as possible.
The ministry advised all Israelis to leave Egypt at once of their own accord, saying that a number of tourists were still known to be in the country. The ministry also said that it was maintaining close contact with all journalists when possible and had advised them to stay out of conflict with security forces there.
The Foreign Ministry had similarly intervened Wednesday for the release of three Israeli journalists and a tour guide.
The four were nabbed after entering Egypt as tourists without obtaining Egyptian press credentials or the necessary approval from the Egyptian Embassy in Tel Aviv. They were arrested while filming and broadcasting news reports. Some members of the group were accused of violating curfew orders.
Three of the freed detainees are from the Channel 2 investigative-news show "360": reporter Yifat Glick, a photographer and the guide they hired. The fourth was a journalist from an Israeli Arabic-language website.
The four are not the first Israeli journalists detained since the unrest began in Egypt. Channel 10 reporter Moav Vardi, who has a foreign passport, was arrested overnight between Sunday and Monday while filming in Cairo.
A source at Channel 10 said he was arrested and taken to a police station after it was clear he was from Israel. He was released after several hours.
In recent days a number of journalists have been arrested while covering the demonstrations.
http://bit.ly/dVXNWK
Egyptian opposition leader tries to ease US, Israeli concerns
Egypt's leading dissident and former UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBarade
WASHINGTON (AFP) -- Leading Egyptian opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei sought to ease Western fears Wednesday that a post-Mubarak Egypt could turn against Israel and the United States.
"The hype that once Egypt becomes a democracy, it will become hostile to the US and hostile to Israel... these are the two hypes, and are fictions," ElBaradei told CBS News.
ElBaradei, who earned a Nobel peace prize for his stewardship of the United Nations atomic watchdog, returned to Cairo shortly after protests erupted last month against President Hosni Mubarak's regime.
The veteran diplomat, who was well respected internationally but little known on the Egyptian street, has become a key opposition figure during days of brutal protests against Mubarak that have left many dead and injured.
In excerpts of his interview in Cairo with CBS anchor Katie Couric, ElBaradei again dismissed Vice President Omar Suleiman's offer for dialogue, insisting Mubarak must step down first.
"I will never get into a dialogue while Mubarak is in power. Because all you do is you give that regime a legitimacy, which in my view, they have lost," he said.
Faced with the biggest protests of his presidency, Mubarak is stubbornly holding onto power after appointing Suleiman as his first-ever vice president and announcing he will not seek re-election in September.
"I don't think he understand what democracy means. I don't think he understands that he really needs to let go," said ElBaradei.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=356644
Egyptian woman: Mossad used me to topple Mubarak regime
Pro-government TV channel interviews woman who claims she was sent to Qatar by US organization, trained by 'Israelis and Jews'. Why confess? Mubarak 'was like father to me', she says.
'Israeli connection' to Egypt riots? A young Egyptian woman claims that the Mossad trained her to assist in bringing down Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's regime. In an interview with Egypt's Al Mehwar network the woman, who noted that her facebook page was extremely popular, said that she was sent by an American organization to be specially trained "by Israelis and Jews" in Qatar.
The woman remained anonymous and was interviewed with her voice distorted and her face blurred. She told of her training and financial support from an American organization called Freedom House. She claims that her trainers were Jews and Israelis whose main job was recruiting "young and unexperienced" students from universities.
The organization is well known, and its website states that its purpose is to "support the expansion of freedom around the world" and that it was founded by "prominent Americans concerned with the mounting threats to peace and democracy".
According to the young woman, after her initial recruitment, she was sent to Doha in Qatar with a group of other young people for the next stage in the process. "We received intensive training for four days. The trainers had different citizenships but a predominant number among them were Israelis," she said.
At the end of the interview the woman was asked what led her to confess her secret activities. At this point, she burst into tears and answered that President Mubarak was "like a father to me," which is why she decided to share what happened to her.
Protests in Cairo escalated to violence after Mubarak's supporters started to confront the opposition supporters in al-Tahrir Square. At least five people were killed and according to doctors' reports, the number of those injured at the square reached 1,500. Mubarak announced that he would not be running for another term in office in the next elections, but protestors are demanding his immediate resignation.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4023319,00.html
28 aug 2011, 22:13 , Respect -
Maria 3 febr 2011
'Mubarak ruined lives of 70 million people'
Egyptian who has been living in Israel for 14 years after escaping torture in homeland, tells Ynet his twisted life story. 'It's time for Egyptian people to be set free,' he says.
The sun was threatening to set on Tel Aviv when some 20 young men and women began marching on Bazel Street, waving Palestinian and Egyptian flags. They sang songs condemning Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, growing louder as they neared the Egyptian Embassy. Police stood on the side of the road, observing the orderly rally, until something disturbed the calm unexpectedly.
A man, evidently older than his fellow demonstrators, stepped off the curb onto the road, and started yelling and cursing. "Mubarak is a son of a bitch," he screamed. "I hope he dies." It was easy to see that unlike the slogans chanted by the others, the man's coarse words came from a painful place. Police caught sight of his tirade and rushed to quell it.
One of the rally's organizers turned to officers, asking them to remove the man from the scene. "He's not one of us," he said. "He came to make a mess." The cops took the screamer aside, urging him to calm down, but he grew even more agitated.
"I'm Egyptian," he yelled. "They ruined my life. My brother is in the hospital in Egypt. Leave me alone."
'I could have died in jail'
A short while later, I see him the street corner. He seems calmer, but two police officers keep watch nearby, just in case. One of them asks the man not to rejoin the protest. I come up to him, ask for his name. "Amir," he tells me. "I'm Egyptian, not like these demonstrators here."
We get a cup of coffee at a little shop on a street corner. There, in the somewhat more relaxed atmosphere, he tells me his fascinating life story.
"I arrived in Israel 14 years ago," he says. "I had to run away from Egypt. They put me in jail for nothing. I ran away from prison, and entered Israel through the broken border in Sinai. If I wouldn't have escaped, I am sure I would have died in jail."
Despite his physical distance from the upheaval, Amir has been having trouble sleeping over the past week. The Images of a burning Cairo incessantly broadcast on television and the feeling that Egypt is on the verge of collapse have been stopping him from shutting an eye. Day and night he watches the media reports on the events upturning his homeland, worrying about the safety of the family he left behind in Alexandria. His concern escalated when he heard that his brother was among those hurt in the riots.
"Yesterday I spoke to my father, and he told me that my younger brother was injured at the clock square in the city," he tells me. "His condition is critical, and he is hospitalized. At that moment the call was cut off, and I have no idea what is going on with him. I'm going crazy."
From fishing village to prison torture
The grievances Amir has with Mubarak and his regime date back 20 years, when he was a young man.
"I wasn't born to a wealthy family," he says. "I grew up in a fishing village near Alexandria. One day, two rich friends asked me to let them use an apartment that belonged to my family for a few days. I agreed and gave them the key.
"Five days later, officers from the Muhabarat (Egypt's secret police) caught me, beat me and threw me in jail," he recalls. "I was in a dungeon for days, without food, practically without water. I was tortured, but no one told me for what reason."
A week later, Amir was brought into the interrogation room. He was shocked to find the two friends that borrow his apartment there. He was even more shocked when the police told him that they brought a girl to the residence and raped her. It turned out that he was accused of abetting the crime.
"When I got to court, I was informed that my two friends were released," he says. "Both their fathers were senior officers, one of whom served in the police while the other served in the Egyptian army. They used their connections and wealth to release their sons without a trial.
"At that moment I realized that, like many others before me, I fell into the hands of the corrupt Egyptian court, and that the whole case was going to be blamed on me," he says.
He was tried without a lawyer, and sentenced to 10 years in one of the roughest prisons in the country. "In Egypt, only money talks," he explains with frustration. "My friends came with money and were released, but I was sent to the dungeon.
"For three months out of the three years I spent in jail, I was locked in a sealed black room, a type of a basement without even a bit of light, which was flooded with sewage," he says. "The prison guards chained me to a small bar near the ceiling, and electrified me with water while my feet weren't touching the floor. There were moments when I was sure that this was where my life was going to end."
After three years there, Amir's father managed to gather a sum of 25,000 dinars for bail, and appealed his conviction in court. The judge placed Amir under house arrest while his case was being investigated.
"It was clear that it was only a matter of time before I returned to prison, simply because we didn't have anymore money to pay," he says. "All my sisters live outside of Egypt, and my father tried to obtain fake documents in order to send me to Dubai or Yemen. The problem was that it takes a long time to obtain such documents %u2013 time that I didn't have. I had to get up and run."
Amir left for Sinai, where his family owns a small piece of land, but he quickly caught the attention of local Bedouin collaborators that turned him in to the police.
"At that time, the Bedouins in Sinai smuggled women and drugs over the border," Amir says. "I realized that I have no choice, so I paid one of them and he smuggled me into Israel."
Amir spent a few months in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba before settling in Tel Aviv, where he has been living for the past 14 years. He does not have any official documents, and works as a mover.
"I've never caused any problems," he says, sounding defensive. "I live my life quietly. I work hard, without disruptions. The police stopped me a few times for routine checks, but I showed them my Egyptian passport and they released me. Once I was arrested by a Special Patrol Unit, but I said I was Palestinian. They took me to a checkpoint and threw me in the territories, so I turned around and returned to Tel Aviv."
His family paid price
Amir's passport was his only official identification document. When it expired four years ago, he went to the Egyptian Embassy in Tel Aviv and requested an extension. Embassy officials took his passport and asked him to return after 45 days. When he came back for it, he was informed that it was confiscated. Neither the police nor the Red Cross could help him.
"This was when I realized that I wasn't the first to whom this has happened, and that there are many Egyptian citizens in Israel whose passports were confiscated by the embassy," he says.
While Amir has made major efforts to keep in touch with his family in Alexandria, he claims that the Egyptian security forces have been doing all they can to harass his relatives in order to cause them to cut off ties.
"Life in Egypt is run by a regime that intimidates the residents," he explains. "The Emergency Law allowed Mubarak and the Egyptian police to do whatever they wanted to. They could arrest people without a trial and abuse them %u2013 the torture and the beatings were entirely routine."
He grows teary-eyed while talking about his 70-year-old father.
"When I would call home to ask how he was, the Egyptian security forces would arrest him immediately for investigations that lasted days," he recalls. "They would arrest my little brother often as well, only because he contacted me and asked me to send him clothes and basic items that they don't have in Egypt.
"Every time they would arrest a family member, it would tear me up inside," he says, and tried to illustrate the situation. "You must understand, our police are not like yours. They don't even knock on the door, they just enter homes and arrest people violently. This is how it is in Egypt, which is why the crowds are on the streets right now. Everyone is fed up."
'Authorities downplay death toll'
In recent days, Amir has spoken frequently to his friends at home, who say that the situation on the streets is even more serious than the media reports. He blames the Egyptian authorities for downplaying the death toll in the violent clashes, and says that the whole nation is in chaos.
"If (Egyptian Vice President) Omar Suleiman will rise to power instead of Mubarak, nothing will change," he notes. "We want new people. Mubarak ruled for 30 years using fear and terror, in a regime that is corrupt to the bone."
Amir finishes his coffee and lights a cigarette. He turns his eyes towards the demonstration.
"My story perhaps sounds difficult, but in Egypt there are tens of thousands of people with similar stories," he says. "I managed to run away, but there are many others that the police simply made disappear, and even their family doesn't know where they are. In Egypt, the right to exist belongs to the rich. The one who doesn't have money is nothing."
He continues to stare at the dozens of protestors, most of whom are young Israeli Arabs, having a hard time concealing his disappointment.
"I thought that more Egyptians will be here, but I was wrong," he notes. "This demonstration is not my demonstration. The Israeli Arabs have their own agenda and interests. Only those who grew up and live in Egypt can understand the sentiment of the Egyptian nation.
"This is why, when I just got here, I went wild," he explains. "Everything just came out and I couldn't stop myself. Mubarak ruined my life and lives of 70 million people. The time has come for him to descend from the throne. It's time for the Egyptian people to be set free."
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4023713,00.html
Israeli spy detained in Egypt amid unrest
A member of Israeli General Staff Reconnaissance Unit, Sayeret Matkal, has been arrested in Egypt amid massive anti-government protests.
The unnamed official was detained on Thursday as Egyptian protesters are keeping up the pressure on President Hosni Mubarak to step down, a video obtained by Press TV's website showed.
Millions of people have gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square, which has been a focal point for demonstrators, as well as elsewhere for the tenth consecutive day and chanted anti-government slogans.
On Tuesday, Mubarak announced in a televised address that he will not run for a sixth six-year term of office. However, he refused to relinquish power.
"I will use the remaining months of my term in office to fill the people's demands," he said.
Protesters resumed their "Leave, Mubarak!" chant in downtown Cairo following the 82-year-old Egyptian president's address.
Clashes also broke out between demonstrators and security forces in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria shortly after Mubarak's announcement.
Egyptian opposition groups are calling for departure of Mubarak from power, the formation of a new parliament, and amendments to the constitution.
As many as 300 people may have been killed, and thousands injured, in clashes between security forces and protesters in Cairo and other Egyptian cities over the past week.
Casualties have been mounting on a daily basis, with unconfirmed reports suggesting as many as 300 people may have been killed, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said on Tuesday.
Egypt's main opposition movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, has condemned the United Nations and Western countries for not attempting to stop the government's use of excessive force against protesters.
The revolution in Egypt follows a historic one in Tunisia, which forced President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to give up power and flee after 23 years of authoritarian rule.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/163427.html
Abbas fears upheaval spill into West Bank
RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- The Palestinian Authority is concerned that nationwide revolutionary protests in Egypt could spill into the Palestinian arena and change the political situation.
Anti-PA movements have already begun to show face.
PA chief Mahmoud Abbas has convened a string of meetings with leaders from the Fatah party and PA security agencies and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to discuss the effects Egypt will have on Palestine, the London-based Al-Hayat newspaper said quoting high-profile PA officials.
The PA fears a violent uprising in Palestine would transform the country's economy, the internal security situation and the balance of internal politics, the officials said.
A breakout in violent incidents will open the door for Hamas to make a comeback in the West Bank, the officials said.
They said Abbas has strictly ordered the suppression of violent clashes against occupation because it would create an atmosphere for Hamas to reappear in the West Bank.
Meanwhile, Facebook groups demanding the removal of the Palestinian Authority have begun to attract thousands of Palestinians.
The movements complain of the PA's security coordination with the occupying Israeli forces, persecution of forces founded to resist the occupation and compromising on land and the rights of Palestinians to return.
One of the groups "the Palestinian Revolution to Remove the Abbas Authority" said in its first ever statement issued January 31: "We call for peaceful change in Palestine in response to the will of millions of our people to produce a national Palestinian leadership serving the interests of our people."
The campaign did not promote the use of violence, but said it warns the Abbas authority of neglecting popular demands.
http://bit.ly/fsFewi
Sources: Hezbollah terrorist escapes from Egyptian prison
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CvgHWa9V2c&bpctr=1385742959
Protests in Egypt turn violent
Hezbollah man who planned terror attacks against Israelis in Sinai flees prison cell in wake of rioting, Egyptian sources report. Meanwhile protesters say many regime supporters who attacked them were found to have police IDs.
Egypt chaos continues: A member of Lebanon's Hezbollah jailed in Egypt for planning attacks against Israeli tourists in Sinai has escaped from prison, Egyptian security sources said on Thursday. Earilier, the media reported that Egyptian businessman Hisham Talaat, who was found guilty of the murder of singer Suzanne Tamim, escaped from prison.
Sami Chehab, sentenced last April to 15 years in prison, escaped on Sunday, they said. Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has previously said Chehab was a member of a Hezbollah cell that was working to smuggle weapons through Egypt to the Gaza Strip. Sources close to Chehab's family said he had already left Egypt.
The emergency state security court sentenced Chehab as part of a group of 26 men charged with planning attacks in Egypt. The case underscored Egyptian concern about what it sees as the destabilizing influence of Shi'ite Iran, Hezbollah's main sponsor.
A number of prominent prisoners have escaped from Egyptian jails over the last week as law and order collapsed when mass protests against President Hosni Mubarak began and police were temporarily withdrawn from the streets.
Prime minister apologizes
Egyptian businessman Hisham Talaat- escaped convict?
Meanwhile, the organizers of a protest against Egypt's government said they had detained 120 people carrying identities associating them with either the police or the ruling party, most of them caught while attacking the demonstrators.
Kamal Ismail, an official in a committee organizing the protests, showed a Reuters journalist two identity cards confiscated on Thursday from men he said had tried to infiltrate the protest camp. One of them belonged to a police officer.
He said most of those detained had been overpowered by the protesters during confrontations that began on Wednesday afternoon when supporters of President Hosni Mubarak tried to force anti-Mubarak demonstrators from a central Cairo square. The anti-Mubarak protesters have been handing their detainees over to the army, he added.
Egypt's prime minister apologized for the attack by regime supporters on anti-government protesters in central Cairo, vowing to investigate who was behind it. Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq has told state TV, "I offer my apology for everything that happened yesterday because it's neither logical nor rational."
The public apology from a top government official was highly unusual. Shafiq called the attack a "blatant mistake" and promised to investigate "so everyone knows who was behind it."
Opposition declines to talk to Mubarak
Egyptian authorities reported that they were holding talks with protestors in al-Tahrir Square in efforts to put an end to the riots that broke out after Mubarak's announcement that he would be standing down at the next elections.
Yet prominent opposition activist Mohamed ElBaradei and the Muslim Brotherhood rejected a call on Thursday by the prime minister for talks saying President Hosni Mubarak must leave office first, they told Reuters on Thursday.
Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq invited opposition groups to talks on Thursday. Al Jazeera and others reported that some groups had agreed, including the liberal, nationalist Wafd party, which is a legal party. The Brotherhood is banned.
"We have refused to meet. Any negotiations are conditional on Hosni Mubarak stepping down and also conditional on security in Tahrir square," ElBaradei told Reuters by telephone.
"We would also like to add that we refuse anything that results from this meeting," said Mohammed al-Beltagi, a former member of parliament from the Brotherhood, adding that his group backed the conditions outlined by ElBaradei.
In spite of Mubarak's announcement earlier this week, the protests and riots continued as at least five people were killed and 13 were wounded by live fire in al-Tahrir Square. The Al Arabiya network reported the doctors at the scene said that the injured were anti-government protesters camping out in Cairo's Tahrir square who were shot by supporters loyal to President Hosni Mubarak.
Also Thursday, the UN announced that some 350 people working for the United Nations in Egypt would be evacuated to Cyprus because of security concerns in the country.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4023529,00.html
Why isn't the PA supporting the Egypt uprising?
Palestinian leadership has been careful not to support the uprisings, banning demonstrations in solidarity with the Egyptians; Palestinian television has virtually ignored the events in Egypt.
The Palestinian leadership has been careful not to support the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, and has banned demonstrations in solidarity with the rebelling peoples. Palestinian television has virtually ignored the events in Egypt.
Dr. Mamdouh al-Aker, a 68-year-old urologist, studied in Cairo and was a member of the Palestinian-Jordanian delegation at the Washington-Madrid talks. He treats patients in Ramallah and Jerusalem's Augusta Victoria Hospital.
For the past seven years, he has been the general commissioner of the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights, an organization formed by a decree by Yasser Arafat in 1993. The commission seeks to guarantee that the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization meet the requirements for safeguarding human rights.
How is that so many people like yourself are happy about the developments in Egypt [before the bloody clashes erupted], yet there is no public expression of support in West Bank cities?
[On Tuesday] afternoon I returned from a meeting on another matter with [Palestinian President] Mahmoud Abbas. Appalled, I told him about a young man who initiated on Facebook a solidarity vigil for the Egyptian people. He was detained and interrogated the evening before the demonstration. Abbas expressed dissatisfaction and promised that the young man would be released immediately. I didn't know that he had already been freed.
Demonstrators who went to the Egyptian consulate in Ramallah and were dispersed told me that security personnel in civilian clothes monitored them, threateningly. Two weeks ago, other young people organized a similar solidarity event for Tunisia. They told me they intended to demonstrate even though they had been told this was forbidden. In both cases, young people said they were thankful to the two peoples for their support of the Palestinian cause.
I was impressed by their enthusiasm. But most people don't demonstrate because they know it is not welcomed. We have a pattern of restricting the freedom of demonstration and assembly. Demonstrations of support for our own people, during the attack on Gaza and against the occupation, were suppressed.
What is that Palestinian Authority afraid of when it bans solidarity demonstrations?
There are two reasons. Due to the close relations with the Mubarak regime, the leadership is perplexed by expressions of support for the opponents of a friend. The second reason - when a regime is insufficiently democratic, it fears that popular demonstrations might spin out of control.
There are reasons to suppose that many of the factors that drove people to protest in Tunisia and Egypt are in play here.
There is one huge difference: Here we live under Israeli occupation. We have to focus on the main goal of ending the occupation. And that's the problem: For years we have behaved as though we have turned into a subcontractor of the occupation, so we have to return and make the occupation pay a price. Not necessarily by using arms, and definitely not by harming civilians.
People dare in several places to confront the Israeli army, but not the Palestinian police.
Yes. But that won't continue indefinitely. The main lesson to be drawn from the Al Jazeera documents is that Israel is not ripe for a fair political agreement. So we should concentrate on our internal situation, put our home in order, enhance our steadfastness. A storm of change is soon to happen, and if we fail to change our path, we will be swept up by it.
People have quoted you as saying that the Palestinian Authority is a police state without being a state.
Generally, I don't like expressing in Israeli media our criticism of the Palestinian Authority, even though the criticism is public and can be found in all our publications. But I consented to your request for an interview.
For three years I have been warning that certain characteristics will drag us toward becoming a police state, unless we pay attention: Arbitrary, illegal arrests. Torture of detainees - due to our complaints, there has been an improvement for several months, but now there appears to be a return to this miserable procedure. Screening of candidates for public posts by the intelligence and preventive security apparatus. Arrests of civilians by the security apparatus - there was a promise that this would end, but we will still wait for an explicit guarantee from the high political level. A lack of compliance with court rulings.
And in the Gaza Strip?
It's a mirror image. Just two weeks ago, I was invited to a conference of the "security sciences academy" in Jericho. Participants discussed perceptions of security in the future state. I said the situation in this pre-state period will influence the future state. I brought up two reasons for incredulity: the building of a national army under the auspices of the occupation and its close scrutiny. That's surreal; it has no historical precedent! Another absurdity is the size of the security apparatus; our ratio between security men and civilians is one of the highest in the world. Why?" That's not under orders from Israel and the United States?
I didn't discuss the political aspect. I'm talking professionally from the angle of human rights. Almost 30 percent of the [PA's] budget is allocated to security; these allocations come at the expense of health and education. [Participants at the conference] sat and kept quiet.
Isn't it strange that the leaders of an occupied people are not supporting a popular uprising?
That's the result and the price of being dragged to the status of a regime, before liberation, while giving up on the agenda of a national liberation movement. As a regime, they must identify with regimes.
Is the situation reversible? Can the PLO return from its status as a virtual regime to a national liberation movement?
The same people? No. But there is a new a spirit. The Palestinian Authority's role has to change. The leadership core must return to the PLO, while the PA should remain with powers as a large municipality. Nothing more. The PLO, which has lost its structure, must be rebuilt.
One of the tragic mistakes is that we didn't focus on the demand for the right to self-determination that encompasses everything. Instead, they concentrated on the idea of a state. A state? [Benjamim] Netanyahu and [Ariel] Sharon also talk about a state, without land, water and borders. Everything is enclaves. As far as I'm concerned, they can call that an empire.
I can feel the seeds of change. There are demonstrations in the villages, the BDS [Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel], the boycott on settlement products, defying the PA on the Goldstone report. What has happened in Tunisia and Egypt will expedite the process of change, revitalize the Palestinian cause and bring it back to where it belongs - not to a government or a "state," but as a movement of national liberation."
http://bit.ly/i5ZCFc
4 sep 2011, 11:01 , Respect -
Maria 4 febr 2011
CrossTalk: Egypt's Jumble, Israel's Jitters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nru6QeT1FM
U.S. Trying to Balance Israel's Needs in the Face of Egyptian Reform
WASHINGTON The demonstrations against President Hosni Mubarak's government in Egypt are rocking the relationship between the United States and its most important Arab ally. But they are also rocking an even more fundamental relationship for the United States its 60-year alliance with Israel.
Obama administration officials have been on the telephone almost daily with their Israeli counterparts urging them to please chill out, in the words of one senior administration official, as President Obama has raced to respond to the rapidly unfolding events.
But the crisis raises many questions about how the United States will navigate its relationship with Israel in particular the balance between encouraging the development of a democratic government in Egypt and the desire in Washington not to risk a new government's abandoning Mr. Mubarak's benign posture toward Israel.
The unsettled outlook in Egypt has also scrambled American calculations about nurturing peace talks back to life between Israel and the Palestinians. And it has left both American and Israeli diplomats wondering about a broader regional realignment in which Israel would be left feeling more isolated and its enemies, including Iran and Syria, emboldened.
Israeli government officials started out urging the Obama administration to back Mr. Mubarak, administration officials said, and were initially angry at Mr. Obama for publicly calling on the Egyptian leader to agree to a transition.
The Israelis are saying, après Mubarak, le deluge, said Daniel Levy, a former Israeli peace negotiator. And that, in turn, Mr. Levy said, gets to the core of what is the American interest in this. It's Israel. It's not worry about whether the Egyptians are going to close down the Suez Canal, or even the narrower terror issue. It really can be distilled down to one thing, and that's Israel.
A White House spokesman, Tommy Vietor, said on Friday that administration officials were reassuring the Israelis that we fully understand Israel's security concerns, and we're making clear that our commitment to Israel's security is unshakeable.
Daniel Shapiro, a White House Middle East adviser, met on Tuesday with American Jewish leaders, and Mr. Obama talked to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel on Sunday.
But administration officials must also balance support for Israel against the real desire among many Egyptians4 and others on the Arab street for an end to the Israeli occupation in the West Bank. The situation tends to highlight Israel's strategic value to the United States as a stable and unequivocal ally in a very unstable region, said Michael B. Oren, Israel's ambassador to Washington. He added: The situation does reinforce the need for security guarantees, regarding a future Palestinian state, because we see how the current situation in the Middle East can change very rapidly.
Supporters of Israel in the United States have been focusing on playing up the dangers they see as inherent in a democratic Egyptian government that contains, or is led by, elements of the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood, which opposes Egypt's 1979 peace treaty with Israel.
In an e-mail on Friday to reporters and editors, Josh Block, a former spokesman for AIPAC, the influential Jewish-American lobbying organization, suggested questions to ask the Muslim Brotherhood & Their Allies.
The first question on Mr. Block's list: Can the Muslim Brotherhood participate in a government where Egypt continues to fulfill Egypt's obligations to Israel under the Camp David Accords?
Obama officials say that the United States cannot rule out the possibility of engagement with the Muslim Brotherhood the largest opposition group in Egypt at the same time that it is espousing support for a democratic Egypt. If Egyptians are allowed free and fair elections, a goal of the Obama administration, then, administration officials say, they will have to deal with the real possibility that an Egyptian government might include members of the Muslim Brotherhood.
American Jewish leaders have also been voicing uneasiness about Mohamed ElBaradei, the former head of the atomic energy agency who is also part of the opposition to Mr. Mubarak.
Malcolm I. Hoenlein, the executive vice president of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, an umbrella group, said that in his work as a nuclear watchdog, Mr. ElBaradei covered up Iran's nuclear weapons capability in the reports issued by his agency.
He is a stooge of Iran, and I don't use the term lightly, Mr. Hoenlein said in an online interview on Sunday with Yeshiva World News. He fronted for them, he distorted the reports.
But many American Jews are also debating the irony of Israel, which long promoted itself as the only democracy in its neighborhood, now voicing concerns about the birth of a democracy next door. And that that democratic movement is happening in Egypt with all of its historic ties to the enslavement of the Jewish people is being picked apart in conversations within American Jewish communities.
I've been saying to my Israeli friends, Come on guys, you're supposed to be the national manifestation of a group of people whose story is the story of liberation from Egypt, said Jeffrey Goldberg, a writer for The Atlantic who is the author of well-read blogs in the American Jewish community. But on the other hand, Mr. Goldberg said, if you're sitting in the Israeli Defense Ministry thinking, Oh my God, I have to worry about my southern border now.
Administration officials say they are keenly aware that how they manage all of the conflicting fears, hopes and aspirations of Israelis and Egyptians could mean the difference between war and peace.
Mr. Levy, the former Israeli peace negotiator, said: The problem for America is, you can balance being the carrier for the Israeli agenda with Arab autocrats, but with Arab democracies, you can't do that.
http://nyti.ms/esdRHE
US, Israel to fill power vacuum in Egypt
A photo sent to Press TV's UReport by Qutab depicts Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu (L ) shaking hands with Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman.
A media report says the US and Israel are floating a plan to introduce newly appointed Vice President Omar Suleiman as President Hosni Mubarak's possible successor.
Suleiman was handpicked as vice president after President Mubarak sacked the cabinet amid ongoing massive rallies against his regime.
Suleiman, who may take over the presidency from Mubarak, was the country's longtime spy chief and is a close US and Israel ally.
A report appeared on AOL News website said on Friday that the US and its allies view Suleiman, 74, as a reliable fix-it man in some of the Middle East's most sensitive disputes.
Suleiman has mediated Arab-Israeli talks and even aided the CIA when it needed a hand in interrogating so-called terror suspects, the report added.
"He has a long history of doing all the dirty work that needs to be done in Egypt. Both domestically, and we also know that he was involved with the infamous rendition affairs with the United States," Rime Allaf, a Middle East expert at London's Chatham House think tank, told AOL News.
"We've heard a lot of stories where he [Suleiman] would take a personal interest, either in the renditions or in anybody who was caught who he thought had links to Islamist groups. He was said to be personally involved in the interrogations and the torture," Allaf added.
"He's not a civilian, and he's not a pleasant person."
Suleiman has recently described the calls for Mubarak's resignation as calls for chaos.
Egypt has been ruled by four presidents since it was declared a republic in 1953. All of these presidents have been members of the country's most influential institution -- the military.
Experts say with former intelligence chief thought of as President Mubarak's possible successor, it seems like things in Egypt would not really change that much.
"But Suleiman is the choice of Israel obviously you know of the long history between Netanyahu and his government and the proceeding government and Suleiman is a bad choice, but it shows you where the power of politics lie in this. That is why the Americans and Israelis want him" Franklin Lamb, a professor at the American University of Beirut told Press TV on Friday.
The developments come as millions of Egyptians take to the streets demanding an immediate end to the Mubarak regime's rule.
Protesters have vowed to stand firm despite the deadly clashes that left several people dead over the past 11 days. Thirty protesters have been arrested on Friday alone.
According to the United Nations, at least 300 people have so far been killed and thousands more have been injured during nationwide protests in Egypt.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Friday that the recent developments in North Africa are the result of the "Islamic awakening, which followed the great [Islamic] Revolution of the Iranian nation."
The Leader also described Mubarak as the "lackey of the Zionist regime [of Israel]."
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/163602.html
PA envoy in Egypt refuses to help stranded Palestinians in Cairo airport
CAIRO, (PIC)-- Dozens of Palestinian citizens stranded in Cairo airport have accused the PA ambassador in Cairo of ignoring their appeals to help them return back to the Gaza Strip by air.
According to the stranded Palestinian passengers, the Egyptian authorities deal with them in an inhumane manner, seizing their passports, and confining them in a dirty room in the airport, telling them that their return to Gaza is attached to the presence of the ambassador to grant them.
The ambassador Barakat Al-Farrah refused to heed the appeal of his own citizens and instead sent an employee of the embassy who met with the stranded Palestinians and blamed them for coming to Egypt at this critical point of time.
But the passengers replied they weren't aware of the incidents, adding that the solution to their problem is for the Palestinian ambassador to come to the airport and guarantee his people like all other foreign ambassadors in Cairo did to their own citizens who were stranded at the airport.
In an interview with the Quds Press, Omar Siyam, the spokesperson of the stranded Palestinian passengers, warned that number of the stranded Palestinian passengers increases everyday that would make the problem even bigger.
He also revealed that the stranded Palestinian passengers suggested they hire a private plane to at their own expense to carry them from Cairo to Al-Areesh airport near the Egyptian-Palestinian borders to make it easy for them pass into Gaza through the Rafah crossing point.
The suggestion was welcomed by the Egyptian authorities on condition the ambassador guarantee them, but Al-Farra remained defiant and refused to guarantee his own people.
http://bit.ly/hOzS7n
Israeli Troops Attack Anti-Wall Protesters Marching in Solidarity with Egypt
Ramallah - PNN Scores of Palestinians joined Israeli and international supporters to march against the Israeli wall in different locations in the West Bank on Friday.
This week, protests were held in solidarity with the pro-democracy Egyptian demonstrators, who are demanding an end to President Mubarak 30-year regime.
In Wadi Rahal and al-Ma'sara villages near Bethlehem, in the southern West Bank, people marched after midday prayers. In Wadi Rahal, many were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation after Israeli troops attacked protesters. One international supporter was arrested by soldiers. Israeli troops stopped al-Ma'sara protesters from reaching Wadi Rahal and forced them back.
In the central West Bank village of Nil'in, villagers joined by Israeli and international supporters marched after midday prayers to the wall. As soon as they reached the wall, Israeli soldiers stationed there fired tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets at them. Many were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation.
In the nearby village of Bil'in, Israeli troops attacked the weekly protest as soon as people and their international and Israeli supporters reached the gate of the wall separating local farmers form their lands. Troops used tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets against the unarmed civilians. Local journalist Haytham al-Khateeb was injured in the hand and many others suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Also in central West Bank, three international protesters were arrested by Israeli troops who attacked the weekly protest in al-Nabi Saleh. People marched from the village center towards their lands, where Israel is building settlements. Troops used tear gas, rubber-coated steel bullets and live rounds at protesters. Many were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation and the weekly action ended after local youth clashed with Israeli troops.
http://bit.ly/gUqFai
In switch, Gaza feeds hungry Egyptian troops
GAZA Feb 4 (Reuters) - Egyptian soldiers isolated on the Gaza border by 10 days of internal upheaval are getting bread, canned goods and other food supplies from the enclave, which is usually on the receiving end of food aid.
A source in the border town of Rafah said security forces of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, which rules Gaza, had been providing the troops with supplies for the past three days.
Israel has blockaded Gaza for over three years with the assistance of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's government, and half the population depends on handouts of staples from the United Nations. With mass protests demanding Mubarak should quit, sources in Rafah said north Sinai was tense. Angry Bedouins were in control of many roads following armed clashes with Egyptian police.
The sources said Palestinian merchants in Gaza have also been smuggling vegetables, eggs and other staples into Egypt, where store owners have run out of stock because normal supplies are cut off by the unrest -- reversing the usual flow of goods.
Hamas security forces had beefed up their presence along the border and in the area of Gaza's honeycomb of smuggling tunnels to prevent any breach of the border line. No photography or television images were allowed. (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi; writing by Douglas Hamilton; editing by David Stamp)
http://af.reuters.com/article/egyptNews/idAFLDE71313A20110204
Ahead of Saturday Pro-Egypt Protests, PA Bans Unlicensed Assembly
Ramallah PNN The Palestinian Authority (PA) issued a statement on Thursday evening banning what it called unlicensed gatherings in response to planned solidarity demonstrations with Egypt and Tunisia by Palestinians on Saturday.
Palestinian human right groups and NGOs have called for protests on Saturday afternoon in Bethlehem, Ramallah, and Jerusalem.
According to an invitation sent out via e-mail, the protests will be nonviolent to which people should bring only Egyptian, Tunisian, and Palestinian flags. No factional signs, the e-mail said.
Adnnan al-Dmeiri, aspokesman for the Palestinian security forces in the West Bank, said that people have the right to freedom of expression, but that protests may bring chaos.
For the past few days, PA police and other security forces have stopped two solidarity demonstrations with Egypt and Tunisia by pro-democracy demonstrators in the central West Bank city of Ramallah.
Human rights watch accused the PA on Wednesday of allowing only pro-Mubarak groups to protest. Al-Dmeiri added in his statement that it was the priority of Palestinians to resist the Israeli occupation.
http://bit.ly/hXtGCY
Palestinian captives are following the Egyptian people's revolution
RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- Palestinian captives in the Negev desert prison are following closely the progress of the Egyptian people's revolution and the news emanating from the Tahrir Square in Cairo through whatever media means available to them in Jail.
In a letter leaked out of prison the captives said that despite the very cold weather at night captives of different political persuasions are following closely events taking place in Egypt and pray for the success of the people's revolution.
The captives said in their letter that the Egyptian people were always an inspiration to other people and a source of pride for the Arabs, adding that the Palestinian cause was always in need of the support of the Egyptian people without obstacles to stop Zionist encroachments in Jerusalem and the West Bank and end the siege on the Gaza Strip.
The captives said that most of them, even Fatah's captives, support the demands of the Egyptian protesters.
http://bit.ly/g9fiUX
Palestinian Popular Committees to Egyptian Protesters: Abandon the Treaty
Jerusalem PNN - In a Friday press release directed to the Egyptian Arab nation, the Palestinian Popular Committees Against the Israeli Occupation called for the renunciation of the 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.
The group called for rebelling Arab people to make it their priority to demand from any government or leadership to come to sever their ties with the Israeli occupation and abandon the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty.
We believe it would be better, it continued, to direct the masses towards the Israeli embassies and interests as an alternative to targeting the capabilities of the Egyptian people and the headquarters of its security.
The renunciation of the treaty, which the Israeli administration of Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly stated it fears, was the third of four calls from the Popular Committees. The group also reiterated the nation's right to live [with] freedom and pride, called for national unity to deal with conspiracies and foreign projects, and asked Europeans and Americans to join massive demonstrations on February 11. The date was called a beginning of the Global Intifada.
The Popular Committees, many of which organize weekly protests against the Israeli wall built on Palestinian lands, congratulated Egyptian demonstrators on restoring hope to the Arab world and asked that renewed focus be directed at the Palestinian struggle.
We call upon you from wounded Palestine, the press release stated, the fathers and the martyrs, the children who still fight the Zionist occupation regardless of oppression, from Palestine that suffers from the internal split among its people, which like a poisoned dagger in the back.
The Popular Committees have been active for eight years, since Israel began building the wall.
http://bit.ly/h92q0c
Hamas allows protest against Mubarak in Gaza
In the West Bank, the Western-backed Palestinian Authority broke up a demonstration of anti-Mubarak protesters but permitted a smaller gathering backing him.
Hamas security officials allowed hundreds of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to demonstrate against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak yesterday, in the first such public gathering there since turmoil erupted in neighboring Egypt last week.
In the West Bank, the Western-backed Palestinian Authority broke up a demonstration of anti-Mubarak protesters but permitted a smaller gathering backing him.
Nearly 1,000 Hamas supporters rallied in front of the Egyptian representative office in Gaza, waving Palestinian and Egyptian flags and chanting, Mubarak, you must leave. Some carried banners in Arabic and English that read The Egyptian people want to change their regime, we must support and respect that.
One participant, Khalil Mohammed, 21, said Gazans and Egyptians share the same concerns and the same interests as young men. This is a symbolic stand to show our solidarity, he said.
Hamas security officials stood by and did not break up the protest.
http://bit.ly/hulcIN
Rights group: PA banning freedom of expression
RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- A Palestinian rights group on Thursday warned of deteriorating freedom of expression in the West Bank, as the PA banned "unlicensed assembly" in response to rallies in solidarity with Egyptians.
In a statement, the Palestinian Commission for Human Rights condemned the PA's closure of the demonstrations.
On Wednesday, PA security forces shut down a rally in Ramallah, using batons to push demonstrators back and detaining at least two protesters.
PCHR said a number of journalists were also detained at the event.
PA forces also banned a similar gathering in central Ramallah on Thursday, the rights group said.
PA security spokesman Adnan Ad-Dmeiri announced Thursday that "unlicensed gatherings" were banned in order to preserve order in the West Bank.
He said the ruling was in response to demonstrations in solidarity with uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.
PCHR said banning gatherings contravenes Palestinian Basic Law which affirms the rights of citizens to hold meetings freely, provided they submit a written notification to authorities signed by at least three organizers.
Further, banning demonstrations also contravenes the universal declaration of human rights, which states that everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, the commission noted.
The group urged the PA to allow citizens, particularly Palestinian youth, to express their views freely without intimidation.
The PA's handling of solidarity rallies also drew sharp rebuke from Human Rights Watch on Thursday.
"The Palestinian Authority should immediately make clear that its state-building training of security forces does not include beating peaceful demonstrators," said Sarah Leah Whitson, HRW's Mideast chief.
"The PA should take action against the responsible police officers or the US and EU should find another use for their taxpayers money," she added in a statement issued by Human Rights Watch.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=356945
Former Israeli min. defends Mubrak
Former Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer
Former Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer has defended Egyptian President Hosni Mubrak, saying his collapse will be tremendous loss for Israel.
The former army general has praised Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak for supporting Israel for thirty years, Israel's Arutz Sheva newspaper reported.
When I watched his speech in which he said he would step down, it pained me to see his collapse," Ben-Eliezer said on Wednesday about Mubarak.
He criticized the American authorities for their handling of the crisis in Egypt saying "the Americans still don't realize the extent of the catastrophe into which they have pushed the Middle East."
Ben-Eliezer said Egypt's main opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, will win if there are polls in the country.
He said that there will be a new Middle East if the Muslim Brotherhood wins elections in Egypt.
The Muslim Brotherhood has said that if the revolution in Egypt succeeds, the country will hold a referendum to decide the fate of its 1979 peace treaty with Israel.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, during the Friday prayer sermons in Tehran, pointed to Mubarak as a lackey of the Zionist Regime.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/163528.html
Thousands support 'day of rage' against Hamas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ymgm2sqqHmk
(Video) Facebook group ' Revolution of Honor' urges Gaza's residents to take to streets. Fatah lauds initiative, Hamas says not aware of any protest plans.
Inspired by the recent uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, a Facebook group called "The Revolution of Honor Gaza" has called for a "day of rage" next Friday to protest against the Hamas government which rules the coastal enclave.
The group has grown to some 10,000 members just three days after it was launched.
The group's Facebook page features hate slogans directed against Hamas and its leader Ismail Haniyeh, a photo Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas beside another photo of Che Guevara, as well as detailed instructions on how to promote the 'day of rage' using YouTube, Twitter, emails and banners.
Tawfiq Tirawi, a former intelligence chief in the Palestinian Authority and a current member of Fatah's Central Committee, supported the group's cause. "We are a nation which fights with all means at its disposal to gain freedom and independence from the Israeli occupation, so how can we accept Hamas' despotic regime?" he said.
Senior Hamas figure Salah Bardawil said, "Tirawi's statements do not concern us; Gaza is the address for every revolution in the Arab world," adding that he was not aware of any plans for a "day of rage" in Gaza.
The Facebook page - 752 'Likes' so far
The Facebook page mysteriously vanished Thursday evening, but its initiators quickly set up a new one and said they would not back down from their plan to encourage Gaza's residents to take to the streets.
Hamas allowed about a thousand Palestinians to hold a demonstration against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. "Mubarak, you must leave," the protestors chanted.
However, police dispersed those protestors who called for Mubarak's resignation and arrested four of them.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4023806,00.html
Anti, pro-Mubarak protests feared in J'lem
Following information Fatah and Hamas planning to protest in favor and against Egyptian regime's downfall, Jerusalem Police restrict worshippers' entry to Temple Mount for Friday prayers. Any attempt to cause disturbances will be dealt with firmly, officials say.
As Egyptian uprising enters its 11th day, Israel fears riots may reach the center of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: The Jerusalem Police decided to restrict the entry of worshippers to the Friday prayers on the Temple Mount following estimates that the Fatah and Hamas organizations were planning protests in favor and against the Egyptian regime's downfall.
Large police forces were deployed in the capital ahead of the Friday prayer, on the backdrop of the recent events in Egypt and following intelligence information.
The police said they would only allow worshippers over the age of 50, who own an Israeli identity card, to enter the Temple Mount. Women would be allowed to enter without any restrictions.
Police officials said they would respond firmly against any attempt to cause disturbances.
Ynet learned that Fatah was planning a show of force on the Temple Mount and that its activists are expected to protest against Qatari television network Al-Jazeera, both due to its involvement in the attempted coup in Egypt and following the publication of confidential Palestinian documents last week.
At the same time, Hamas members may protest against Mubarak's government as an expression of solidarity with the Egyptian demonstrators. Israel fears that their protests may turn violent and set the capital on fire.
Meanwhile, a Facebook group inspired by the recent uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt has called for a "day of rage" next Friday to protest against the Hamas government which rules the Gaza Strip.
The group, "The Revolution of Honor Gaza" has grown to some 10,000 members just three days after it was launched.
The group's Facebook page features hate slogans directed against Hamas and its leader Ismail Haniyeh, a photo of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas beside another photo of Che Guevara, as well as detailed instructions on how to promote the "day of rage" using YouTube, Twitter, emails and banners.
On Thursday, Hamas permitted some 1,000 Palestinians to protest against the Egyptian regime for the first time. "Mubarak, you must leave," the protestors chanted. In Ramallah, on the other hand, police dispersed 100 protestors calling for the Egyptian president's resignation and arrested four of them.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4023884,00.html
Gazans support Egyptian revolution
Gazans shout slogans in support of the Egyptian revolution on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011.
Hundreds of Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip have taken to the streets to express their support for the ongoing Egyptian revolution.
As anti-government protests in Egypt entered its 10th day, over 1,000 Gazans mainly students gathered at the Egyptian representative office in the Gaza City on Thursday, a Press TV correspondent reported from Gaza.
Emotions are running high among Gazans, who are closely monitoring the popular uprising in Egypt and see it as a source of empowerment and inspiration.
The rally was the first public gathering since the start of the Egyptian popular uprising.
The demonstrators, carrying Egyptian flags and banners, praised what they called the "Egyptian revolution" initiated by young Egyptian people revolting against President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year tyrannical rule.
They shouted, "Mubarak, you must leave. The Egyptian people want to change their regime. We must support and respect that."
Gazans have been waiting for over four years to see an end to their sufferings under Israel's ongoing land and sea blockade. Many accuse the Egyptian government under Mubarak's rule of supporting the blockade on the territory.
Many analysts say that the uprising in Egypt shows a sign of political awareness in many countries across the Arab world.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/163498.html
Israeli arrested in Egypt released
Returned to Israel through Taba crossing
Tomer Sahiak returns to Israel after being detained by Suez police for 24 hours. 'The Foreign Ministry was very supportive and patient. I felt wonderful to have such a country,' his mother tells Ynet.
sraeli citizen Tomer Sahiak was released from Egyptian prison on Thursday night, about 24 hours after being detained by the Suez police. His mother, Carmela, told Ynet she had spoken with her son, who returned to Israel through the Taba border crossing.
"We are tired but very happy," she said. "The masses attacked him, but he was guarded by the Egyptian army."
Sahiak, 40, a Jerusalem resident, was released following talks held between the Israeli Foreign Ministry and the Egyptian authorities. According to his mother, Tomer left for Sinai on January 20, and during the trip decided to visit the city of Suez, where he was arrested.
Egypt chaos
According to an initial report, Sahiak was detained during a protest against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. But his mother believes that he was arrested for entering Egypt without a visa. She said he had sounded "very optimistic" during their phone conversation.
Carmela Sahiak said the family was in regular contact with the Foreign Ministry immediately after being informed of Tomer's arrest. She explained that the Ministry instructed the family not to give any interviews to the press until his release.
The family praised the Foreign Ministry for its support during the stressful hours. "I felt wonderful to have such a country," said Tomer's mother. "They were so supportive and so patient both the Foreign Ministry and the embassy. It's great to have such a country."
She added that she had no plans to ever visit Egypt again following the ordeal her son went through.
Protestors in Egypt. 'Foreign Ministry was great help'
"Tomer told us that he didn't even think about going to Suez," she recalled. "He was tourin Taba and had to reach a resort city called Hurghada, but the ship broke down and the problems began in Suez. He was attacked by the masses, and that's what he was afraid of.
"But he said that the moment the army arrived it took care of him, and his investigator treated him very well and let him eat and drink. He was even given the key to the room he was staying in so that he could lock it from the inside."
Channel 10 correspondent Moav Vardi, who was sent to Egypt to cover the riots in Cairo and was arrested by Egyptian intelligence, returned to Israel on Thursday.
Vardi was detained for questioning after being spotted photographing the army forces deployed on Cairo's streets. He was released after managing to convince the local police that he was a journalist, and left the country.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4023837,00.html
4 sep 2011, 21:12 , Respect -
Maria 5 febr 2011
Demo in support for egypt in Ramallah 5 Feb - PA arrests I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HTEmUCti-U
Palestinians trapped in Egypt: Ambassador has done little to rescue us
CAIRO, (PIC)-- While countries across the globe scramble to evacuate their citizens from volatile protests in Egypt, little has been done to aid Palestinian commuters trapped at the Cairo International Airport.
Authorities have detained around 30 Palestinians transiting Egypt in a constricted room for over ten days. They complain their country's ambassador to Egypt has not done enough to fly them to safety.
The Rafah land crossing has also been closed for the past ten days as protests progress.
The stranded group includes people with illnesses, women, children, and elderly. No one is left in the airport besides them.
Omar Siyam, speaking on their behalf, told the PIC correspondent he doesn't feel Ambassador Barakat al-Farra was concerned about their ordeal.
Although Farra had given statements that he was moving to resolve the crisis, Omar said: "One of the people Farra sent to the airport frankly said 'do not ask anything from us, the ambassador can do nothing for you, he can only send blankets and food.'"
"We don't want food or drink. We just want to return to our homes in Gaza," he said.
He added several airport officials said Farra, who represents the authority in Ramallah, was capable of escorting them out in his "diplomatic car".
"We don't know what he's waiting for," Omar said.
http://bit.ly/hWTPLU
Al Jazeera Exposes American Media Bias Covering Egyptian Revolution
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62UXBr6wqAA
In Solidarity with Egypt, Fifty Gather in Bethlehem's Nativity Square
Bethlehem PNN - As Egypt entered its twelfth day of unprecedented protests against President Hosni Mubarak, Palestinians gathered in solidarity in Bethlehem's Nativity Square, The protest was organized by human rights activist Dr. Mazen Qumsiyeh, author of the book Popular Struggle in Palestine, and coincided with others in Ramallah, Jerusalem, and Gaza.
After between 50 and 60 protesters had gathered, flying Egyptian and Palestinian flags in Nativity Square typically crowded only around Christmas the group marched toward the marketplace, only to be stopped by local police.
The people in power are trying to stem the tide, they're trying to go against the inevitable, said Qumsiyeh. It'9s unfortunate that they stopped us from marching. It is our right to freedom of expression, marching in our own town. We were going to go to the marketplace, but they said, No, you don't have permission to go to the marketplace.
The rainy weather and the police restriction meant that the protest wrapped up in just over a half an hour, in which organizers called for Arab unity, the end of autocracy, and a representative opposition to Israel and Zionism. Protesters chanted From Tunisia to Palestine and speakers extolled that change was coming to the Middle East.
This is the Egypt of [Gamal] Abdul Nasser, the Egypt of October [Revolution], of all the groups in the past and all those to come, said one protester, who called for the abandonment of the 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. It is impossible to liberate the region without Egypt. It is the tip of the spear in our fight against the Zionist entity.
Similar demonstrations in Ramallh were shut down on Sunday and Thursday. On Thursday, Human Rights Watch issued a statement to the ruling Palestinian Authority (PA) that it must let them go on.
"The Palestinian Authority should immediately make clear that its 'state-building' training of security forces does not include beating peaceful demonstrators," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director.
http://bit.ly/hgics4
Report: Blast in Egypt church near Gaza border
Eye witnesses say they saw smoke, several armed men around empty church in Rafah. No injuries reported.
An explosion hit a church in Rafah, near the Egyptian border with the Gaza Strip, but the source and the scale of the blast were not immediately clear, witnesses said on Saturday.
Witnesses said they saw several armed men around the church but it was not clear whether they were involved. Smoke rose from the Mari Gerges church, which was empty of people, they added.
Egyptian officials had earlier blamed the Gaza-based Army of Islam for a New Year's Day church bombing in Alexandria that killed 23 people. The group denied the charge. http://bit.ly/hcOBDT
Saboteurs blew up a gas pipeline in northern Egypt overnight, disrupting flows to Israel and Jordan.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4024197,00.html
Blast in Egypt church near Gaza border-witnesses
An explosion hit a church in Rafah, near the Egyptian border with the Gaza Strip, but the source and the scale of the blast were not immediately clear, witnesses said on Saturday.
Witnesses said they saw several armed men around the church but it was not clear whether they were involved. Smoke rose from the Mari Gerges church, which was empty of people, they added.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4024180,00.html
A Villa in the Jungle?
Uri Avnery - We are in the middle of a geological event. An earthquake of epoch-making dimensions is changing the landscape of our region.
Mountains turn into valleys, islands emerge from the sea, volcanoes cover the land with lava. People are afraid of change. When it happens, they tend to deny, ignore, pretend that nothing really important is happening.
Israelis are no exception. While in neighboring Egypt earth-shattering events were taking place, Israel was absorbed with a scandal in the army high command. The Minister of Defense abhors the incumbent Chief of Staff and makes no secret of it. The presumptive new chief was exposed as a liar and his appointment canceled. These were the headlines.
But what is happening now in Egypt will change our lives. As usual , nobody foresaw it. The much-feted Mossad was taken by surprise, as was the CIA and all the other celebrated services of this kind.
Yet there should have been no surprise at all - except about the incredible force of the eruption. In the last few years, we have mentioned many times in this column that all over the Arab world, multitudes of young people are growing up with a profound contempt for their leaders, and that sooner or later this will lead to an uprising. These were not prophesies, but rather a sober analysis of probabilities.
The turmoil in Egypt was caused by economic factors: the rising cost of living, the poverty, the unemployment, the hopelessness of the educated young. But let there be no mistake: the underlying causes are far more profound. They can be summed up in one word: Palestine.
In Arab culture, nothing is more important than honor. People can suffer deprivation, but they will not stand humiliation.
Yet what every young Arab from Morocco to Oman saw daily was his leaders humiliating themselves, forsaking their Palestinian brothers in order to gain favor and money from America, collaborating with the Israeli occupation, cringing before the new colonizers. This was deeply humiliating for young people brought up on the achievements of Arab culture in times gone by and the glories of the early Caliphs.
Nowhere was this loss of honor more obvious than in Egypt, which openly collaborated with the Israeli leadership in imposing the shameful blockade on the Gaza Strip, condemning 1.5 million Arabs to malnutrition and worse. It was never just an Israeli blockade, but an Israeli-Egyptian one, lubricated by 1.5 billion US dollars every year.
I have reflected many times out loud how I would feel if I were a 15 year-old boy in Alexandria, Amman or Aleppo, seeing my leaders behave like abject slaves of the Americans and the Israelis, while oppressing and despoiling their own subjects. At that age, I myself joined a terrorist organization. Why would an Arab boy be different?
A dictator may be tolerated when he reflects national dignity. But a dictator who expresses national shame is a tree without roots any strong wind can blow him over.
For me, the only question was where in the Arab world it would start. Egypt ike Tunisia was low on my list. Yet here it is the great Arab revolution taking place in Egypt.
This is a wonder in itself. If Tunisia was a small wonder, this is a huge one. I love the Egyptian people. True, one cannot really like 88 million individuals, but one can certainly like one people more than another. In this respect, one is allowed to generalize.
The Egyptians you meet in the streets, in the homes of the intellectual elite and in the alleys of the poorest of the poor, are an incredibly patient lot. They are endowed with an irrepressible sense of humor. They are also immensely proud of the country and its 8000 years of history.
For an Israeli, used to his aggressive compatriots, the almost complete lack of aggressiveness of the Egyptians is astonishing. I vividly remember one particular scene: I was in a taxi in Cairo when it collided with another. Both drivers leapt out and started to curse each other in blood-curling terms. And then quite suddenly, both of them stopped shouting and burst into laughter.
A Westerner coming to Egypt either loves it or hates it. The moment you set your foot on Egyptian soil, time loses its tyranny. Everything becomes less urgent, everything is muddled, yet in a miraculous way things sort themselves out. Patience seems boundless. This may mislead a dictator. Because patience can end suddenly.
It's like a faulty dam on a river. The water rises behind the dam, imperceptibly slowly and silently but if it reaches a critical level, the dam will burst, sweeping everything before it.
My own first meeting with Egypt was intoxicating. After Anwar Sadat's unprecedented visit to Jerusalem, I rushed to Cairo. I had no visa. I shall never forget the moment I presented my Israeli passport to the stout official at the airport. He leafed through it, becoming more and more bewildered and then he raised his head with a wide smile and said marhaba, welcome. At the time we were the only three Israelis in the huge city, and we were feted like kings, almost expecting at any moment to be lifted onto people's shoulders. Peace was in the air, and the masses of Egypt loved it.
It took no more than a few months for this to change profoundly. Sadat hoped sincerely, I believe that he was also bringing deliverance to the Palestinians. Under intense pressure from Menachem Begin and Jimmy Carter, he agreed to a vague wording. Soon enough he learned that Begin did not dream of fulfilling this obligation. For Begin, the peace agreement with Egypt was a separate peace to enable him to intensify the war against the Palestinians.
The Egyptians starting with the cultural elite and filtering down to the masses never forgave this. They felt deceived. There may not be much love for the Palestinians but betraying a poor relative is shameful in Arab tradition. Seeing Hosni Mubarak collaborating with this betrayal led many Egyptians to despise him. This contempt lies beneath everything that happened this week. Consciously or unconsciously, the millions who are shouting Mubarak Go Away echo this contempt.
In every revolution there is the Yeltsin Moment. The columns of tanks are sent into the capital to reinstate the dictatorship. At the critical moment, the masses confront the soldiers. If the soldiers refuse to shoot, the game is over. Yeltsin climbed on the tank, ElBaradei addressed the masses in al Tahrir Square. That is the moment a prudent dictator flees abroad, as did the Shah and now the Tunisian boss.
Then there is the Berlin Moment, when a regime crumbles and nobody in power knows what to do, and only the anonymous masses seem to know exactly what they want: they wanted the Wall to fall.
And there is the Ceausescu moment. The dictator stands on the balcony addressing the crowd, when suddenly from below a chorus of Down With The Tyrant! swells up. For a moment, the dictator is speechless, moving his lips noiselessly, then he disappears. This, in a way, happened to Mubarak, making a ridiculous speech and trying in vain to stem the tide.
If Mubarak is cut off from reality, Binyamin Netanyahu is no less. He and his colleagues seem unable to grasp the fateful meaning of these events for Israel.
When Egypt moves, the Arab world follows. Whatever transpires in the immediate future in Egypt democracy or an army dictatorship - It is only a matter of (a short) time before the dictators fall all over the Arab world, and the masses will shape a new reality, without the generals.
Everything the Israeli leadership has done in the last 44 years of occupation or 63 years of its existence is becoming obsolete. We are facing a new reality. We can ignore it insisting that we are a villa in the jungle, as Ehud Barak famously put it or find our proper place in the new reality.
Peace with the Palestinians is no longer a luxury. It is an absolute necessity. Peace now, peace quickly. Peace with the Palestinians, and then peace with the democratic masses all over the Arab world, peace with the reasonable Islamic forces (like Hamas and the Muslim Brothers, who are quite different from al Qaeda), peace with the leaders who are about to emerge in Egypt and everywhere.
http://bit.ly/h3v5Yx
Egypt Denies News of Assassination Attempt on VP Suleiman; Blast in Northern Sinai
Cairo PNN - According to American news outlet Fox News, Mubarak-appointed Vice President Omar Suleiman survived an attack on his motorcade on Saturday, January 29 that killed two of his bodyguards. Egyptian authorities denied the report.
The White House confirmed reports of the attack, but Press Secretary Robert Gibbs would not answer questions about it. Neither details nor the timeline of the attack, which Fox News alleges happened a week ago, are clear.
Suleiman, the former head of Egyptian intelligence, was appointed a week ago as Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak attempted to quell demonstrations in Cairo. Since then, millions of protesters have demanded Mubarak's ouster despite his pledge not to run in September elections. The first vice president Egypt has had since 1981, Suleiman was charged with the task of starting a dialogue with Egyptian protesters.
He recently confirmed to American media that the 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel would still stand in spite of uprisings in Egypt.
Yes, we will have a peace agreement, he said on Friday. We will keep it firmly and not violate it at all.
Earlier on Saturday, a blast rocked an Egyptian pipeline in the northern Sinai Peninsula that supplies Israel with natural gas. Majdi Twofik, from Egyptian Company for Natural Gas, said that blast was a result of a small amount of gas that leaked from the pipeline.
Egyptian state television called it a big terrorist operation and that the situation is very dangerous, with explosions continuing from one place to another. Israel gets 40% of its natural gas needs from Egypt as part of the 1979 peace deal.
Al Jazeera English later said the blast hit the Jordan branch of the Sinai pipeline and left the Israeli part undamaged. Israeli radio said the blast was nowhere near the pipeline going to Israel.
The Search for International Terrorist Entities (SITE), an intelligence group tasked with monitoring al-Qaeda and other Islamist groups, claimed the blast was designed to put the Egypt-Israel treaty in danger.
Jihadists suggested that Muslims in Sinai take advantage of Egyptian unrest and strike the Arish-Ashkelon gas pipeline, arguing that it would have a major impact on Israel, the SITE web site reported.
http://bit.ly/fFOYyh
Solidarity with Egyptians screamed during West Bank protests
RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- Weekly anti-wall demonstrations across the West Bank on Friday turned into moves of solidarity with Egyptian protesters.
"Despite difficult conditions we propelled the weekly march to intersect with the Egypt protests in rejection of injustice and demand for freedom," said Ratib Abu Rahma, a member of Bil'in's anti-wall committee.
The march reached the wall area amid vast popular and media presence, Abu Rahma said.
Israeli occupation troops tried to suppress the protest with gas canisters and rubber bullets.
Meanwhile, another anti-wall march was staged in the village of Nabi Salih after Friday prayers.
From the first minute, the Israeli occupation army proceeded to block off the village's entrances and crack down on the peaceful demonstration using gas and rubber bullets.
Protesters raised Palestinian and Egyptian flags and chanted slogans of solidarity with Egyptian protests demanding the president there to step down.
http://bit.ly/fpkbhV
Saboteurs attack Egypt gas pipeline; supply to Israel suspended
Egypt-Israel natural gas line
Egyptian state television reports terrorists 'took advantage' of volatile security situation in country to blow up gas pipeline. Israel Radio says Egypt-Israel pipeline not damaged, but gas supply stopped as precaution.
Saboteurs blew up a gas pipeline, state television said on Saturday, adding fresh turmoil to Egypt during unprecedented protests to end the 30-year rule of President Hosni Mubarak.
State TV quoted an official as saying that the "situation is very dangerous and explosions were continuing from one spot to another" along the pipeline which runs through North Sinai.
"It is a big terrorist operation", a state TV reporter said.
Riots in Cairo
A security source said the Egyptian army closed the main source of gas supplying the pipeline.
Another security source in North Sinai said it was the Jordanian branch of the pipeline, not the one leading to Israel, blaming the attack on "foreign elements".
Israel Radio said the Egypt-Israel pipeline was not damaged, but the supply stopped as a precaution.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Israel "is prepared for situations in which the supply of gas from Egypt is stopped, and we have the option of immediately switching to alternative energy sources."
Netanyahu met with Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau and security establishment officials to discuss the attack in Egypt. The Infrastructure Ministry said its does not expect any disruptions in the supply of electricity.
"It is still unclear whether any damage was caused to the infrastructure of the gas pipeline in Egypt, but as a security precaution Israel has stopped the transfer of gas (from Egypt)," the PMO said.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak's office said the security establishment has beefed up security at its energy facilities.
The attack happened as demonstrations against Mubarak entered their 12th day, with no sign of an end to the confrontation which has pitted the 82-year-old leader against thousands of anti-government protesters.
Mubarak, who has pledged to step down in September, said on Thursday he believed Egypt would descend into chaos if he were to give in to protesters' demands that he quit immediately.
He has styled himself as a bulwark against Islamist militancy and essential actor in maintaining a peace treaty Egypt signed with Israel in 1979.
"Saboteurs took advantage of the security situation and blew up the gas pipeline," a state television correspondent said.
The SITE intelligence group, which monitors al Qaeda and other Islamist websites, said earlier this week some groups had been urging Islamic militants to attack the pipeline to Israel.
Al Qaeda, which has its ideological roots in Egypt, has been largely sidelined in the protests against Mubarak.
The government in the past has used a perceived threat from Islamist militancy to justify its use of emergency laws which helped keep Mubarak in power.
'Leave, leave, leave'
Fire following pipeline attack
State TV said the pipeline that was attacked supplied both the Israeli and Jordanian gas lines. Residents in the area also reported a huge explosion and said flames were raging in an area near the pipeline in the El-Arish area of north Sinai.
"Jihadists suggested that Muslims in Sinai take advantage of Egyptian unrest and strike the Arish-Ashkelon gas pipeline, arguing that it would have a major impact on Israel," SITE said.
With the unrest crippling the economy in Arab world's most populous nation, some Egyptians are anxious to return to normal. Banks were due to reopen on Sunday, the start of the week in Egypt, and the stock market on Monday.
The United States has also been pressing Mubarak to begin a transfer of power and pave the way for democracy in a country which has been dominated by the military since it toppled the monarchy in 1952.
No one, however, can see an easy compromise which would satisfy the protesters' demand for change, with Mubarak's military backers' desire to maintain their influence and find an honorable exit for the president.
Vice President Omar Suleiman was due to meet a group of prominent figures on Saturday to examine a proposed solution under which he would assume the president's powers for an interim period, one of the group's members said.
But with some of the protesters insisting they wanted not just Mubarak but also his allies out, it was unclear that would be enough to end the crisis.
In Cairo's Tahrir Square, the hub of demonstrations, protesters occupying the usually busy intersection in the heart of the city said they were not giving up.
"Leave, leave, leave," people camped out in the square -- scene of violent clashes this week between anti-government protesters and Mubarak loyalists -- chanted.
"We are not leaving the square until our demands are met," one of them shouted over a loudspeaker, after a relatively peaceful night where some sang patriotic songs and chanted poetry over loudspeakers talking of victory over Mubarak.
Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians held mostly peaceful demonstrations across the country on Friday.
Anti-Mubarak protest in Cairo
Ex-intelligence chief Suleiman was due to discuss with the group of prominent figures an article in the constitution covering Mubarak handing over power to his vice president, one of the group's members, Diaa Rashwan, told Reuters.
Mubarak would stay on in a symbolic position under the proposal being promoted by the group of Egyptians calling itself the "The Council of Wise Men", allowing him to serve out his tenure with some dignity.
Some protesters however say they want a complete break with the past, while Obama has also called for "meaningful" change.
And while some analysts say transferring powers to Suleiman could help defuse the crisis, others argue it needs a bigger step shift to pave the way for free and fair elections.
"The best way to support democracy is to support democracy; not to enable authoritarians to take over the political system and hope they'll negotiate their way out of power," Steven Cook at the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations said on its website.
The unprecedented challenge to Mubarak has rallied many different strands of society -- professionals and the poor, secular and religious, Muslims and Christians, internet-savvy youth with members of the Muslim Brotherhood Islamist movement.
The United Nations estimates 300 people have died in the unrest, inspired in part by protests in Tunisia which forced veteran strongman Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali to flee last month.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4024083,00.html
Gaza gov't helps isolated Egyptian border soldiers with basic supplies
RAFAH, (PIC)-- News reports said the Egyptian soldiers stranded on Gaza borders as result of the internal unrest get food and basic supplies from the besieged Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian government's security forces in Gaza have been providing Egyptian soldiers deployed on the Rafah border area with food supplies for days, according to reports and eyewitnesses.
A Palestinian security officer described this assistance as a religious and moral duty towards Egypt's security forces.
An Islamic charity also reportedly provided meals to hundreds of Egyptian soldiers at Rafah area. Gaza merchants as well smuggle essential staples into Egypt after stores there run out of stock.
Gaza security forces had been intensively deployed along the Egyptian-Palestinian border area to prevent any breach of the borderline.
In Cairo, more than one million Egyptians flocked into Attahrir square to listen to the weekly Friday Khutba (sermon) and perform prayers.
Preacher Sheikh Mazhar Shaheen urged the protesters to hold their ground until Hosni Mubarak responds to their demands and leaves power.
After Friday Khutba and prayers, the protesters performed prayers for the victims killed during the popular uprising that broke out several days ago. Later the crowds started to chant slogans calling on Mubarak to step down and sing the national anthem and patriotic songs.
http://bit.ly/hrUshS
Egypt revolution impacts Gaza fuel supply
Gazans have to wait for hours to receive fuel to heat up homes, businesses, and schools.
Gaza's fuel supplies have dropped significantly due to the situation in Egypt, causing serious problems for Palestinians living in the territory.
Tel Aviv frequently shuts the borders of Gaza, and Israeli courts have also reduced the regular fuel quota entering the Gaza Strip for no given reason.
In addition, the fuel and other badly needed supplies that used to be brought in through the underground tunnels between Gaza and Egypt have stopped coming.
Fuel supplies dropped sharply at the beginning of the Egyptian revolution, but now there's no fuel coming through the tunnels, a Press TV correspondent reported from Gaza on Friday.
On the first day of the Egyptian uprising, Gazans lined up at gas stations to try to collect as much fuel as possible, although there's no way of knowing how long the limited stores of fuel will last.
The Gaza Fuel Importers Association says that reserves of diesel and gasoline in the Strip's gas stations have run out completely.
Fuel is not just needed to keep vehicles on the road in the blockaded territory; it is also a basic necessity used to run domestic and industrial generators during the frequent power cuts, keep hospital equipment running, and heat up homes, workplaces, and schools.
Economists say that the depletion of fuel will have serious consequences for all aspects of life in Gaza.
Since 2006, when Israel imposed a crippling blockade on the Gaza Strip, the tunnels along the border with Egypt have been something of a life-line for the besieged enclave. They have been used to import foodstuffs and other essential supplies.
Now with no fuel coming through the underground passageways, Palestinians in Gaza fear some tough days could lie ahead, although a limited amount of fuel is allowed in through an Israeli crossing.
Experts say that the depletion of fuel will exacerbate the problems of Gaza's stagnant economy and will increase unemployment and the poverty rate in the besieged territory.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/163634.html
5 sep 2011, 18:23 , Respect -
Maria 6 febr 2011
Egypt protest losing steam? Cairo relatively quiet as talks begin
Only a few thousand anti-Mubarak protestors gather at Tahrir Square as Muslim Brotherhood, VP Suleiman kick off negotiations. UN chief concerned unrest may hurt Israel-PA peace process; pope prays for Egypt 'tranquility'.
Nearly two weeks have passed since the anti-government riots broke out in Egypt, but President Hosni Mubarak's government has yet to collapse. Following mass protests in which hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Cairo and Alexandria, it appears as though the protest is losing momentum, with only a few thousand showing up at Tahrir Square on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Vice President Omar Suleiman and representatives from the Muslim Brotherhood Egypt's most influential opposition group launched negotiations Sunday to pull the country out of its worst crisis in 30 years.
Al Arabiya reported that during the talks the Brotherhood's representatives are insisting that the protestors' demands be met. Opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei is being represented at the talks by one of his associates.
For now it seems the negotiations have helped quell the civil unrest in Cairo. Only a few thousand people have gathered at Tahrir Square, which has seen mass protests and bloody clashes between anti-government activists and Mubarak supporters. The Egyptian army has also reduced its presence in the area.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Sunday he was concerned that the unrest in Egypt could have "serious implications" for the Middle East peace process.
Ban, who was in Munich for an annual security conference, told a small group of reporters at his hotel that Mubarak and the Egyptian government have been key in the negotiations between the Palestinians and Israel.
"This is why we are concerned," he said.
Also on Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI said he is praying that Egypt can find tranquility and peaceful coexistence.
Benedict said he is attentively following the "delicate situation in the dear Egyptian nation," addressing thousands of pilgrims Sunday in St. Peter's Square.
The pope said he is asking God that the country, marked by days of protests, can "find again tranquility and peaceful coexistence, in the shared commitment for the common good."
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4024588,00.html
Watch: Egyptian officers shoot protestor to death
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW2Y7zNov1E
(Video) Since uprising began Mubarak government has claimed security forces not using live fire against protestors, but footage posted on YouTube apparently points to the contrary.
Footage of what appears to be an Egyptian protester being shot dead by police in Alexandria has been posted on YouTube, the British newspaper Daily Mail reported Sunday.
The clip, which has not been confirmed as authentic, is apparently the latest recorded evidence that Egyptian security forces have been using live fire against anti-government protestors, despite the regime's claims to the contrary.
The video, which lasts for two-and-a-half minutes, was filmed from the balcony of a backstreet apartment in the Manshya district of Egypt's second city and shows demonstrators setting up a makeshift barricade across the roadway, with a tire burning nearby.
Then one of the protesters walks toward a number of armed police officers positioned further up the street.
The protester spreads open his coat as if to show the officers - who already have their weapons drawn - that he is unarmed. But he continues to face them and gesture to them - even though the black-clad security officers have their weapons aimed at him.
After a tense 30-second standoff, the protester drops to the floor as if dead before the clip abruptly ends.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4024492,00.html
Ramallah demo backs Egypt revolution
Hundreds of Palestinians have staged a demonstration in the West Bank to express their solidarity with the anti-government protesters in Egypt.
Palestinians, including university students as well as members of foreign NGOs, held a rally in Ramallah on Saturday in support of the popular revolution in Egypt.
The protesters waved Egyptian and Palestinian flags and carried portraits of one of President Hosni Mubarak's predecessors, former President Gamal Abdel Nasser, who is regarded as a hero figure in the Arab world, AFP reported.
"This demonstration is a message of solidarity and brotherhood with the Egyptian people battling for democracy and reforms," said Hanan Ashrawi, an executive committee member of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Mamdouh al-Ikir, the commissioner general of the Independent Commission for Human Rights, also attended the demonstration.
The demonstrators carried banners reading "From Ramallah to Tahrir Square, the people want change," and "Down with oppressive regimes."
Palestinian Authority security forces were deployed on the roads ending in the downtown al-Manara Square and reportedly used excessive force to disperse the protesters.
Organizers said around 2,000 people attended the demonstration, which was the largest of four held to show solidarity with the Egyptian and Tunisian anti-government movements.
On Thursday, the Palestinian Authority banned all rallies in support of Egypt and Tunisia, saying the decision was in the interest of stability in the West Bank and arguing that protests created chaos.
However, protest organizers issued a statement on Saturday in which they vowed to continue holding events in support of freedom of speech, against Israel's occupation and apartheid, and in solidarity with struggles around the world -- especially in the Arab world -- for freedom, democracy and social justice."
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/163856.html
Hamas: British intelligence report on Alex bombing prove our credibility
GAZA, (PIC)-- Hamas said that the British intelligence's report about the involvement of Egyptian interior ministry and its former minister in the bombing of an Alexandria church proved the movement's credibility.
The movement said in a press release on Saturday that the charge against a Gaza faction in the explosion was meant to mix up cards, to tighten the siege on Gaza, and weaken the Egyptian popular support for Hamas.
Hamas had denied Egyptian ministry accusations that the Gaza-based Army of Islam was behind the blast and offered to cooperate with Cairo in a joint investigation into the "serious incident" that threatened the internal Egyptian front.
The Army of Islam in Gaza categorically denied involvement in the bombing as claimed by former Egyptian interior minister Habib Al-Adly.
http://bit.ly/eUjD7j
Qassam leader Nofal in Gaza after being released from Egyptian jails
GAZ, (PIC)-- Top leader of Al-Qassam Brigades Ayman Nofal arrived on Saturday in the Gaza Strip after he was released from Egyptian jails.
An informed source told the Palestinian information center (PIC) that thousands of Palestinians received Nofal upon his arrival at his home in Nuseirat refugee camp and congratulated him on his release from Egyptian prisons.
The source did not clarify if Al-Qassam leader was released by the Egyptian authorities or anti-regime protestors.
The Egyptian security apparatuses kidnapped Nofal on January 27, 2008 when thousands of Gazans knocked down the border wall in Rafah area in order to buy basic needs from Egyptian stores.
He was reportedly exposed to severe torture at the hands of Egyptian interrogators in a bid to extract some information about the whereabouts of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and the activities of the Palestinian resistance.
Egypt's popular uprising
Many political analysts believe that the regime of Hosni Mubarak is falling apart and the events in Egypt are gradually moving towards imminent decisiveness in favor of millions of protestors who demand the removal of the whole political system.
The fig leaves covering the body of the ruling family has also started to fall, where Britain's Guardian newspaper revealed in a report a few days ago that Mubarak and his family have a fortune of about 70 billion dollars according to analysis by experts from the middle east.
Much of this family's wealth is in British and Swiss banks or tied up in real estate in London, New York, Los Angeles and along expensive tracts of the Red Sea coast.
After 30 years as president and many more as a senior military official, Mubarak has had access to investment deals that have generated hundreds of millions of pounds in profits. Most of those gains have been taken offshore and deposited in secret bank accounts or invested in upmarket homes and hotels, the newspaper said.
In Cairo, thousands of Egyptians has started since yesterday to flock into Attahrir square to participate in a mega rally in the context of a new week of protests to be held Sunday in support of the steadfastness of the young protesters there.
Christian leaders in Egypt also announced they would perform Sunday prayers in the square and would participate in the gathering calling for the removal of Mubarak.
Protesters were seen hanging banners with pictures of the victims who were killed in the events that broke out on January 25.
http://bit.ly/f8RDSK
Hamas militant arrives in Gaza after escaping Egypt jail
GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- A leader of Hamas' armed wing arrived in the Gaza Strip on Saturday after escaping from an Egyptian prison.
Thousands of prisoners broke out of jail in Egypt amid security chaos as ongoing anti-government protests spread across the country.
Al-Qassam Brigades militant Ayman Noufel returned to Al-Buriej refugee camp in central Gaza, where he was received by his family and senior Hamas leaders.
Noufel was detained three years ago in El-Arish, when thousands of Palestinians broke out of Gaza through the wall on Egypt's border.
He was one of eight Palestinians who escaped from Egyptian jails, and six of the group have returned to Gaza.
The whereabouts of the remaining two is still unclear, but their families said they received unconfirmed information that Egyptian forces detained them at a checkpoint near Sheikh Zweid, a city 15 kilometers from the Gaza border.
According to official statistics in Gaza, 39 Palestinians have been detained in Egypt. Egyptian security insisted on detaining them despite court rulings ordering their release.
The oldest detainee to escape was Mu%u2019tasem Al-Quka, who spent seven years in Abu Za'bal prison accused of affiliation with Hamas.
He added he did not know at first what he was charged with but was later told it was for being a member of a movement banned in Egypt.
Al-Quka said he was ill-treated in Egyptian prisons especially in Abu Za'bal prison. He said prisoners were able to flee the jail because Egyptians demolished its walls.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=357300
Minister: Israel to step up plans for gas imports
JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israel is to step up plans for an offshore platform for importing liquid natural gas in the wake of the weekend attack on an Egyptian gas pipeline, a cabinet minister said on Sunday.
Speaking on public radio, National Infrastructure Uzi Landau said Israel would work to build a floating platform off the northern city of Hadera, which would be able to receive natural gas and transport it to shore.
"We must build this platform off Hadera in the next two years because there is an emergency which we need to take into account," he said, referring to the ongoing uprising in Egypt against President Hosni Mubarak.
The platform would have the capacity to receive LNG from a vessel anchored nearby and turn it back into its gaseous form before transporting it to shore by pipeline, the Haaretz newspaper said.
The project, which is expected to be operational by the end of 2012, is expected to cost some $300 million, it said.
Landau's proposal was made a day after saboteurs in northern Sinai attacked an Egyptian gas pipeline to Jordan, forcing Cairo to also switch off supplies to Israel which is supplied via a twin pipeline.
It was not immediately clear who was responsible for Saturday's attack which came as Israel expressed concerns its natural gas supplies from Egypt could be threatened if a new regime takes power in Cairo.
Egypt supplies about 40 percent of Israel's natural gas which is used to produce electricity. In December, four Israeli firms signed 20-year contracts worth up to $10 billion to import Egyptian gas.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=357467
Witnesses: Church in flames in Egypt's Sinai
CAIRO (AFP) -- A Coptic church in the Egyptian town of Rafah bordering the Gaza Strip was in flames on Saturday, with witnesses reporting a blast although a local official denied an explosion was the cause.
Witnesses said they saw flames coming out of the Mar Girgis church in Rafah after hearing an explosion. Armed men on motorbikes were spotted near the church, one of them said.
North Sinai's governor Abdel Wahab Mabruk, however, denied on state television there had been any explosion in Mar Girgis.
The church had been left without police guards at the time of the fire, witnesses said, after security forces disappeared en masse amid nationwide rallies calling for the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak.
Security is usually in place around Christian places of worship after several attacks against Copts and had been boosted after a bombing in Alexandria at the turn of the year.
A suicide bomber blew himself up outside a Coptic church in the northern Egyptian city of Alexandria after a New Year's Eve mass at the start of 2011, killing 23 people.
In 2010, six Copts were gunned down as they emerged from a Christmas mass, in an attack that also killed a Muslim policeman.
Egypt's Christian community comprises 10 percent of the predominantly Sunni Muslim country's population of more than 80 million, and complains of systematic discrimination.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=357366
9 sep 2011, 21:05 , Respect -
Maria 6 febr 2011
The Egyptian Revolution - January 25th till now
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPIpQqW9YkA
'We were for blackmail' escaped Hamas prisoner says
GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- "I felt pride and joy when I returned to Gaza, but at the same time I felt such sadness for the raw destruction apparent just on the walk home," Ayman Noufel recalled of his entry into the Gaza Strip after escaping from an Egyptian prison earlier in the week.
"We had heard about the revolution and we just called to each other in the cells down the halls, the guards were did nothing as we decided to break down the cell bars with the bed frame; we helped the Egyptians break down their doors. As we ran toward the main gate of the prison some guards shot at us, but others set fire to the gate and we ran under the cover of smoke," he recalled of the escape.
Detained in 2007 after Hamas forces in Gaza ripped a section of the border wall down, allowing thousands of Strip residents to spill into Egypt, where most bought provisions and fuel.
"I left to get things we needed for the house, I was riding in a car and we passed a checkpoint of Egyptian security. I was arrested and taken immediately to the El-Arish police center where I was questioned and tortured for two weeks," Noufel said.
Egyptian officials said he was detained for belonging to Hamas. "I spend nine months at the police center then I was transferred into solitary confinement at the Abu Za'bal prison. After two years another Palestinian man shared the cell with me, and we both stayed there until I manged to escape."
He said he was never told what his charge was.
During the interrogation sessions, Noufal said, "They asked what kind of weaponry Hamas had, how prepared the movement was and what the range of projectiles had reached."
After more than a year in detention, Noufal said he started insisting that he know why he was being held.
"We figured out that we were being used as hostages to blackmail Hamas," he said, adding that the destruction in Gaza when he returned had doubly disturbed him, because he had "not been there with the resistance during the war on Gaza."
As he got close to home following his escape, Noufal said he feared he would not find his family there. "When I saw the lights on I rejoiced," he said.
Now, his wife Wesam Hejazi says, the children refuse to go to school, "they will not leave their father's side for a second, even the youngest who was not even three months old when he was taken, she will not leave the house without him."
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=357600
Latest Updates on Day 13 of Egypt Protests
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu2s0LQXLyI&bpctr=1385741926
On Sunday, The Lede continues to follow the street protests in Egypt. For a summary of the latest developments, read the current version of the main news article from Times reporters in Cairo http://nyti.ms/eYDiqM . Updates below mix alerts on breaking news with eyewitness accounts from bloggers and journalists in Egypt. A stream of Twitter updates on the protests is in this blog's right column. Readers can share information in the comment thread below or send photographs or video from Egypt to [email protected].
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will remain in office "until the end of September," his newly-appointed prime minister, Ahmed Shafiq, told CNN minutes ago.
Speaking by telephone from Cairo, Mr. Shafiq, a former air force commander, told CNN: "President Mubarak will leave in September... and now the discussion is if he is able to leave before or not: we insist here in Egypt to continue his period until the end of September." Apparently referring to the regime's insistence that the country's constitution must be changed to allow for a transition that maintains the current order, he added that "a lot of points must be covered before he leaves." So I think we are in bad need for the presence of his excellency."
Mr. Shafiq's remarks appeared to echo a statement on Saturday by the Washington lobbyist and former diplomat, Frank Wisner, who met with Mr. Mubarak last week on behalf of the Obama administration. As my colleague David Sanger reported on Saturday: http://nyti.ms/hzTHfU
the man sent last weekend by President Obama to persuade the 82-year-old leader to step out of the way, Frank G. Wisner, told a group of diplomats and security experts that "President Mubarak's continued leadership is critical - it's his opportunity to write his own legacy."
But just before his remarks, Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton gave a strategy overview that stood at odds with that assessment. At a minimum, she said, Mr. Mubarak must move out of the way so that his vice president, Omar Suleiman, can engage in talks with protest leaders over everything from constitutional changes to free and fair elections.
Julian Borger, The Guardian's diplomatic correspondent, observed:http://bit.ly/gMS1vy
Frank Wisner, a retired diplomat who met with Egypt's president last week on behalf of the Obama administration, spoke to a security conference in Munich by video on Saturday.
Frank Wisner's apparent love song to Hosni Mubarak has left confusion behind him. Speaking on a video link-up from New York to the Munich Security Conference, Barack Obama's special envoy to Egypt veered wildly off-message in seemingly fond remarks about the Egyptian autocrat. http://bit.ly/hBAPMc
Wisner, who had just returned from Cairo, started by making a constitutional argument for Mubarak to stay. If the presidency is vacated, Wisner said, the speaker of the parliament would fill the post, and elections would have to be held within two months. Those elections would have to be fought under the existing rules, which are unacceptable to the opposition.
The argument ignored the allowance under the constitution for the president to delegate powers, which he has done in the past while undergoing medical treatment. But at least the argument sounding dispassionate. What followed didn't.
As Mr. Borger reported, Mr. Wisner appeared to directly contradict President Obama's push to have Mr. Mubarak step down. The retired diplomat, who now works at Patton, Boggs, a lobbying firm with ties to the Egyptian regime, said: http://nyti.ms/f4gqdv
The president must stay in office to steer those changes through. I therefore believe that President Mubarak's continued leadership is critical; it's his opportunity to write his own legacy. He has given 60 years of his life to the service of his country and this is an ideal moment for him to show the way forward.
11:42 A.M. |Reporter Detained After Asking About Video of Shooting
Hours after he began investigating a graphic video, said to show Egyptian police shooting a protester at point-blank range last week in Alexandria, Ayman Mohyeldin, a Cairo correspondent for Al Jazeera English, was arrested by the Egyptian military.
On Sunday morning, Mr. Mohyeldin asked readers of his Facebook page http://on.fb.me/dRRJES and Twitter feed http://bit.ly/i30KNC to help him find out more about a disturbing clip posted on YouTube, which appears to show a single protester facing down armed members of the security forces being gunned down from across a narrow street.
About eight hours ago, Mr. Mohyeldin posted a link to the graphic video (which is embedded below) and asked: http://bit.ly/gfwdJK
Can anyone in Egypt tell me more information about this video? Where it was taken? Who filmed it? Who was the victim?
About three hours later, a colleague reported on Facebook that Mr. Mohyeldin had been detained by the Egyptian military. An hour ago, Al Jazeera reported that "Ayman is still detained," although the army had released his colleague, Sherine Tadros. http://on.fb.me/gkNmo1
Readers can view the clip Mr. Mohyeldin drew attention to below, after clicking through a warning message about its graphic content on YouTube (the protester appears at the 1:40 mark of the clip, shot from a building above the street):
In his interview with CNN on Sunday, Mohamed ElBaradei explained that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's immediate resignation was necessary in part because his regime has continued to detain political opponents even as state television reported that the government had opened talks with opposition groups.
Mr. ElBaradei told Fareed Zakaria of CNN:
It's a question of credibility. While Omar Suleiman was talking about freeing all the detainees, all the young people who are being detained, I got nine people detained immediately after meeting with me at my home here. They were kept for a couple of days. They were just released yesterday.
Reporting from Cairo, my colleague David Kirkpatrick has more on the arrest of that group of young protest organizers detained after meeting with Mr. ElBaradei on Thursday. He writes: http://nyti.ms/fEzFYA
Vice President Omar Suleiman of Egypt has won the blessing of both the Mubarak and Obama administrations as the leader of a political transition toward democracy in Egypt. But human rights advocates say that so far Mr. Suleiman, who also is in charge of Egyptian intelligence, has shown no sign of discontinuing the practice of extra-legal detention of political opponents - a hallmark of President Hosni Mubarak's nearly 30-year rule that is a central grievance of the protesters in the streets.
"We have been seriously concerned about the arrests and harassment of human rights workers and youth activists who are around the demonstrations," said Heba Morayef, a researcher with Human Rights Watch in Cairo. "These are exactly the same practices that inspired the Jan. 25 demonstrations in the first place, not a departure."
The continuing pattern is one reason many of the opposition leaders and protesters in the streets say they are determined not to back down until Mr. Mubarak leaves office: if he stays, they say, they risk imprisonment, torture and death.
The most notable example is the long disappearance of Wael Ghonim, a Google executive and leader of the young Internet activists who started the revolt. Believed by many to be the anonymous host of the Facebook page that first called for the Jan. 25 protest that kicked off the Egyptian uprising, he wrote that day on his Twitter account, "We got brutally beaten up by police people," and later, "Sleeping on the streets of Cairo, trying to feel the pain of millions of my fellow Egyptians."
"Very worried as it seems that government is planning a war crime tomorrow against people," he wrote two days later. "We are all ready to die." He disappeared soon after, and after a thorough search of area hospitals, his family and human rights workers have concluded that he was taken by Egyptian security forces.
The pattern was most evident last Thursday, when the authorities rounded up scores of journalists and human rights workers all around Cairo. Though most foreigners appear to have been released, many Egyptians are still out of sight or in custody.
Around 8:45 on Thursday evening, for example, a group of about 10 young online political organizers - part of the group that started the revolt with an online call to protest - sat down for dinner at a coffee shop here after a meeting at the home of Mohamed ElBaradei, a Nobel Prize-winning diplomat who has become a spokesman for the democracy movement.
10:37 A.M. |ElBaradei Tells CNN 'We Need a Year of Transition'
As my colleagues in Cairo report http://nyti.ms/dHzDbK , tens of thousands of protesters rallied in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Sunday and Egyptian state television reported that representatives of some opposition groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood, met with Vice President Omar Suleiman to discuss changing the country's constitution.
But, in an interview with Fareed Zakaria of CNN on Sunday, Mohamed ElBaradei, a Nobel-Prize winning diplomat in the opposition camp, said that he would not negotiate with the regime until President Hosni Mubarak resigns and warned that allowing the regime to oversee elections in the coming months would lead to "a fake democracy."
Mr. ElBaradei said:
I am ready to express my views, but I am not ready to negotiate with the representative of Mubarak. I mean, the whole idea was to move that regime to a new regime. Mubarak continues to be a symbol of that old regime, and I will not give any legitimacy to that existing regime, because the whole idea is that this regime has no legitimacy, has no -- has lost whatever credibility.
He added that the regime's constitution should be discarded, rather than simply amended, and proposed that a caretaker government, led by two civilians and one representative of the regime, should lead the country through "a year of transition." Mr. ElBaradei told CNN:
What I'm calling for, Fareed, is a presidential council of three people, with Suleiman or somebody from the army would be one member; the others should be civilian. A year of transition of a government of national unity, of a caretaker government that prepares properly for free and fair elections. I think any election in the next coming months, before the right people establish parties and engage, it will be again a fake, a fake democracy.
So we need a year of transition. We need a government -- a transitional government. We need a presidential council. We need to abolish the present constitution. We need to dissolve the current parliament. These are all instruments of the dictatorship regime, and...I don't think we will go to democracy through the dictatorial constitution.
My experts on constitutional law said that the easiest way, Fareed, is to start a new era with an interim constitution, set aside the present parliament which is rigged, set aside the present constitution which has nothing to do with democracy, and give ourselves a year for a peaceful and safe transition, and then we will get a proper president, a proper parliament, and then work again on a full-fledged democratic constitution.
http://nyti.ms/dYdukl
Investigate Narus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYklalrlqrA
Freepress sends us the following message about Narus, the American firm whose product allowed Mubarak to shut down the internet in Egypt: http://bit.ly/e9H5jn
In Egypt this week, the Mubarak regime shut down Internet and cell phone communications before launching a violent crackdown against political protesters (watch Free Press' Timothy Karr discuss the use of technology in Egypt in the video to the right).
Now, Free Press has discovered that an American company Boeing-owned Narus of Sunnyvale, CA has sold Egypt "Deep Packet Inspection" (DPI) equipment that can be used to help the regime track, target and crush political dissent over the Internet and mobile phones.
The power to control the Internet and the resulting harm to democracy are so disturbing that the threshold for using DPI must be very high. That's why, before DPI becomes more widely used around the world and at home, the U.S. government must establish clear and legitimate criteria for preventing the use of such surveillance and control technology.
Free Press is calling for Congress to investigate the use and sale of DPI technology by American companies. Add your name to our letter now. http://bit.ly/e9H5jn
Narus, now a Boeing subsidiary, was begun by Israeli technicians. Here in America, they're spying on users of Facebook http://bit.ly/dZKaRg and other social networking services. As always, the all-purpose excuse is catching pedophiles and terrorists -- but the Mubarak example reveals the real purpose for these apps.
Narus is developing a new technology that sleuths through billions of pieces of data on social networks and Internet services and connects the dots.
The new program, code-named Hone, is designed to give intelligence and law enforcement agencies a leg up on criminals who are now operating anonymously on the Internet.
It's trivial to set up a Gmail or Facebook account under a fake name. The question for law enforcement then becomes, how does it connect different pieces of information to the same person? "It's very hard to connect these two pieces of information," Nucci said. "We're really asking [law enforcement] to become almost like magicians."
Narus is best known as the creator of NarusInsight, an network monitoring device that can analyze traffic on IP networks. AT&T allegedly used a Narus system to wiretap customer data on behalf of the U.S. National Security Agency as part of a U.S. domestic terrorist surveillance program.
Hone works in tandem with NarusInsight. By Nucci's own admission, however, it can do some pretty "scary" things.
The software's user creates a target profile, and Hone then proceeds to link what Nucci calls "islands of information." Hone can analyze VOIP conversations, biometrically identify someone's voice or photograph and then associate it with different phone numbers.
"I can have a sample of your voice in English, and you can start speaking Mandarin tomorrow. It doesn't matter; I'm going to catch you."
It uses artificial intelligence to analyze e-mails and can link mails to different accounts, doing what Nucci calls topical analysis. "It's going to go through a set of documents and automatically it's going to organize them in topics -- I'm not talking about keywords as is done today, I'm talking about topics," he said.
FreePress wants a congressional investigation of Narus. I don't expect worthwhile action from this president or this congress. But we do need a national conversation on this topic -- and we need to stop buying the "pedos and terrorists" story.
We also need to get past defeatism -- as in: "Well, there's nothing we can do. There's no such thing as privacy any more." Sorry. Not buying that. We can have our privacy back if we demand it.
Some people say: "If you're not doing anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about." Only a classic "good German" would rely on that cowardly excuse. Here's a better axiom: If the government were not doing something wrong, it would not have to worry about us.
http://cannonfire.blogspot.com/2011/02/investigate-narus.html
5 Year Old Child Heads Million Strong Demo in Alexandria Egypt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvUEg1YQG4o
Egyptians unleash anger at US, Israel
Reports say anger at the United States and Israel is widespread among the Egyptian crowds protesting against out-of-favor President Hosni Mubarak's regime.
The protesters hold Washington responsible for President Hosni Mubarak's thirty-year dictatorship.
A Press TV correspondent says many slogans at Liberation Square are directed against the US, Israel and France.
This comes as Egyptian demonstrators gathered in Cairo's Liberation Square on Sunday to honor the martyrs of 13 days of anti-government protests.
They have managed to stay in the central square, despite heavy army presence and attacks by pro-government thugs.
Protesters say their achievements in recent days have made it impossible for them to give up until President Mubarak quits power.
The developments come as the government has entered talks with opposition groups to discuss political reforms.
Egypt's opposition party, the Muslim Brotherhood, has agreed to join talks with the government of President Mubarak but says that the meeting is in no way in the form of negotiations, it is rather statement of our demands.
Senior party officials said they would enter talks with Vice-President Omar Suleiman, but will drop out if the demands made by the protesters during the last two weeks are not met.
Earlier, the Muslim Brotherhood representative in Britain, Mohammad Ghanem, confirmed to Press TV that his party will hold talks with the government. However, he said the position of the Muslim Brotherhood has not changed.
The government has pledged to hold talks with all opposition parties to discuss democratic reforms that would lead to the replacement of President Mubarak.
The Muslim Brotherhood is officially banned in Egypt. The group, however, enjoys popular support.
Meanwhile, people and leaders around the world are rallying in solidarity with the Egyptian people's protests against Mubarak.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for a democratic transition in Egypt as soon as possible.
Erdogan suggested that an interim administration be formed to pave the way for the fulfillment of the Egyptian people's demands.
The Turkish leader said democratic change in Egypt would have a positive impact on the entire region.
Earlier, Erdogan called on the Egyptian president to immediately step down, saying Mubarak's promise to resign in September is not enough.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/163958.html
US bribed Mubarak to support Israel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7c2KOrgcKk
A political analyst says the United States paid massive aid to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to get his support for Israel in the cost of abandoning Palestinian human rights.
Israel is very connected to pretty much everything that goes on in the region in some way or another and is extremely connected to US policy in the Middle East, Alison Weir, Executive Director of If Americans Knew, told Press TV's US Desk on Saturday.
Since the beginning of its creation Israel has been seeking to establish a military domination in the region, to divide and conquer and is extremely opposed to any form of democracy in the Middle East region, she noted.
Weir added that one of the key allies of the US in the region which has supported Israel for years has been the Egyptian regime of Mubarak.
According to the Executive Director of If Americans Knew, Washington paid money to Cairo to gain its support for the regime in Tel Aviv at the expense of abandoning the support of Palestinian human rights.
According to a recent Congressional Research Service report, US foreign assistance to Egypt has averaged just over $2 billion every year since 1979, when Egypt struck a peace treaty with Israel following the Camp David Peace Accords.
Every year, Mubarak has received $1.3 billion in form of military aid from the United States.
According to lists of arms sales notifications compiled by the Pentagon's Defense Security Assistance Agency, in the last decade alone, the Department of Defense has brokered over $11 billion in US arms offers to the Egyptian regime.
For the past 30 years, Egypt has, not only been a crucial US partner in the Middle East, but a linchpin in Washington's strategy for a future Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.
Egypt's revolution is understandably causing anxiety in Israel. The nightmare scenario of a collapse of the Mubarak regime and the creation of an independent state across the border has, for years, haunted Israel's leaders.
Anti-government protest in troubled Egypt has entered its 13th consecutive day as Cairo's Liberation Square remains flooded with demonstrators who call on Mubarak to immediately step down.
According to the United Nations, at least 300 people have been killed and thousands more have been injured during 13 days of revolution in Egypt.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/163904.html
9 sep 2011, 21:06 , Respect -
Maria 7 febr 2011
WikiLeaks: Israel's secret hotline to the man tipped to replace Mubarak
Omar Suleiman, left, was Israel's preferred candidate to replace President Mubarak according to secret cables released to The Daily Telegraph by WikiLeaks
The new vice-president of Egypt, Omar Suleiman, is a long-standing favourite of Israel's who spoke daily to the Tel Aviv government via a secret "hotline" to Cairo, leaked documents disclose.
Mr Suleiman, who is widely tipped to take over from Hosni Mubarak as president, was named as Israel's preferred candidate for the job after discussions with American officials in 2008. http://bit.ly/evfX0p
As a key figure working for Middle East peace, he once suggested that Israeli troops would be "welcome" to invade Egypt to stop weapons being smuggled to Hamas terrorists in neighbouring Gaza.
The details, which emerged in secret files obtained by WikiLeaks and passed to The Daily Telegraph, come after Mr Suleiman began talks with opposition groups on the future for Egypt's government. http://bit.ly/gDMS31
On Saturday, Mr Suleiman won the backing of Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, to lead the "transition" to democracy after two weeks of demonstrations calling for President Mubarak to resign.
David Cameron, the Prime Minister, spoke to Mr Suleiman yesterday and urged him to take "bold and credible steps" to show the world that Egypt is embarking on an "irreversible, urgent and real" transition.
http://bit.ly/gktJeA
Netanyahu: Egypt could follow Iran
Bibi says Egypt may turn into new Iran, radicalize in wake of political upheaval; PM tells European parliamentarians they too are threatened by Tehran's missiles, says West has trouble recognizing fanaticism hiding behind suit and tie.
Egypt may follow in Iran's footsteps, oppress its own people and threaten neighboring countries, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday at the European Friends of Israel conference held at the Knesset.
The PM said that various potential scenarios exist in Egypt at this time, beyond the liberal democratic models %u2013 including secular reforms, an Islamist takeover, or Egypt following the Iran example.
Netanyahu added that the "earthquake in Tunisia" was followed by one in Egypt, noting that at this time the extent of the aftershocks is unclear.
"I don't know what will happen in Egypt, but our interest is clear," he said, making note of the peace treaty with Cairo, which he said "brought quiet to the south and stability to the region."
'Don't underestimate Iran threat'
The prime minister also warned European parliamentarians on hand about the danger inherent in Iran's attempts to acquire a nuclear bomb. He said that the events in Egypt were minor compared to a "greater earthquake that may shock the region and the entire world" in case Iran develops nukes. Netanyahu noted that Iran is already sending its tentacles worldwide, saying: "This is what they're doing without nuclear weapons. Imagine what they'll do with them."
On the same topic, the PM stressed that Europe too was in Iran's sights. "Today already Iran possesses missiles that can reach Israel. Why do they continue to boost the range of their missiles, you ask? In order to reach you."
Netanyahu urged the visitors not to underestimate the Iranian threat, adding that the West at times finds it difficult to recognize fanaticism when it hides behind a suit and tie.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4025339,00.html
Violence in Egypt clashes
[Warning: the images in this footage may disturb some viewers.]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr4EnDfhlCI
Al Jazeera has obtained footage showing violent clashes between Mubarak loyalists and pro-democracy protesters on the night between February 2 and 3.
In one clip, Mubarak loyalists are seen driving into a crowd of pro-democracy protesters, who then set upon them.
In another, shots are fired on protesters on a bridge.
Al Jazeera's Andrew Simmons in Cairo has more.
With more than 300,000 attending the wedding Protesting couple ties the knot at Cairo's Tahrir square
More than 300,000 protesters on Sunday attended the wedding ceremony of Dr Ahmed Zaafan and Oula Abdul Hamid, who have been camping in Tahrir Square in central Cairo since Jan. 28.
The couple said they decided to tie the knot after they spent the past 10 days along with their friends in the central Cairo square.
"I am worried because my parents could not come to attend the party, but happy that all Egyptians and Arabs have witnessed my marriage and we both received blessings and congratulations from all over the world," Zaafan said.
Oula said she would not find a better gathering to attend her wedding party than those camping in the square. "I am very happy about the idea of a wedding in this holy square which is witnessing the rebirth of our nation."
Zaafan and Oula are both members of Dr Amr Khalid's Creator of Future Group, a non-profit organization that aims at helping people on different social problems.
Creator of Future has more than 50,000 members. They were actively involved in the current uprising by offering security services for different residential complexes in Cairo and other cities. Zaafan said he was aware that any participant in this movement might die.
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/02/07/136642.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgRK2uFLs_Q
Israel refuses Egyptian request to station more troops in the Sinai
The Hebrew daily, Ma'ariv, today confirmed that Israel has rejected an Egyptian request to send additional Egyptian troops into the Sinai to deal with growing threats in the area as described by Egyptian sources.
Egypt justified its request citing an increase in activity from organisations based in the area and referred to the recent bombing of a gas pipeline.
Israel stated that it had looked into the Egyptian request in detail; however it had decided to refuse the request. It also said that in the event of a return to security and stability in Egypt, the Egyptian troops recently deployed in the Sinai should be withdrawn.
According to a mutual agreement, Israel has prohibited the presence of the Egyptian army in the Sinai desert since the signing of the Camp David Accord in 1979.
http://bit.ly/g0jKbV
Islamist group clashes with Egyptian forces at Gaza border
Egyptian security came under attack Monday by a group witnesses identified as the radical Islamist group Takfir Wal-Hijra, injuring an officer and a civilian.
Security officials told Ma'an that the attack was launched on forces operating in the Ahrash neighborhood of Rafah city, with several Rocket-propelled Grenades fired in what was said by witnesses to be a two-hour battle.
The Rmeilat tribe, part of the indigenous Bedouin population, were said to have joined forces with with the security forces to push back the group, an offshoot of Egypt's popular Muslim Brotherhood with alleged ties to Al-Qaeda.
According to local officials, members of the same group abducted three Egyptian police officers from Dahaqliya on Friday, as the car of officers left the Al-Arish district on patrol.
Egypt had stepped-up border security after a clash with Bedouin tribes in the area during the first week of mass protests in the nation's cities demanding the ouster of the country's 30-year president Hosni Mubarak.
Eyewitnesses said the recognized several of the assailants, who were identified as belonging to the Takfir Wal-Hijra movement.
The injured were identified by security sources as officer Muhammad Nabil, shot in his leg and a local Bedouin young man, 20-year-old Muhammad Ahmad Mahmoud, who sustained a gunshot wound in the chest.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=357697
Haneyya calls on released Qassam leader
GAZA, (PIC)-- Palestinian premier Ismail Haneyya on Sunday evening visited the Qassam Brigades commander Ayman Nofal who managed to get out of his Egyptian jail a few days earlier and headed back to Gaza.
Haneyya congratulated Nofal over his safe return after years in captivity, underlining that all Palestinians were pleased with the return of Nofal to his family and home.
The premier was accompanied by a number of ministers, senior officials, MPs, and Hamas leaders.
Nofal arrived back to his home in Nusseirat in central Gaza Strip on Saturday night after three years in Egyptian prisons with no charge being leveled against him. He was out of jail during the unrest that prevailed in the Egyptian streets demanding the ouster of president Hosni Mubarak.
http://bit.ly/hs22qB
...Read more 10 sep 2011, 09:38 , Respect -
Maria 8 febr 2011
Analyst: The US recognition of the Muslim brothers' right to ruling is a snare
GAZA, (PIC)-- Political analyst Dr. Adel Samara described the US declared approval to the participation of the Muslim brotherhood group in any coming government in Egypt as dangerous "entrapment".
"America is trying to break through the ranks of the struggle movements in order to push them into dealing with what is already there in the region, such as normalizing relations with the Zionist entity and recognizing the signed agreements," Samara said in a press statement to the Palestinian information center (PIC) on Monday.
"Washington has realized that Egypt will return to the arena with a different orientation, and this is dangerous to it, so it is trying to prevent that from happening," the analyst underlined.
For his part, analyst Dr. Hani Al-Basous also said in this regard that the US administration is attempting to absorb the popular anger and avoid any looming political crisis in the region and to make the Muslim brotherhood to deal with its policies, especially with regard to Israel.
"Everything happening is temporary techniques, and an unknown policy will be used to serve in the first place the American regional interests," he added.
http://bit.ly/ig5rND
Hamas demands ending suffering of stranded Palestinians
DAMASCUS, (PIC)-- Hamas movement issued a statement in Damascus on Tuesday expressing concern over the conditions of the stranded Palestinians, who include women, children, and sick patients, at the Cairo airport.
It urged Egyptian officials not to engage Palestinian suffering in what is happening in Egypt, adding that those Palestinians' only sin is that they are from the Gaza Strip to which the Rafah border terminal was shut down by Cairo.
Praying for security, safety, and stability of Egypt, Hamas called on those officials to end the suffering of the stranded Palestinians and allow them to return safely to their homes in Gaza.
http://bit.ly/igLZyP
Palestinians stranded at Cairo airport on hunger strike
GAZA, (PIC)-- The Palestinian passengers stranded at Cairo international airport went on hunger strike last Sunday after the failure of the Palestinian authority ambassador to resolve their issue and help them to return to their homes in the Gaza Strip.
The Egyptian authorities at the airport detained 35 Palestinians from Gaza inside a room and refused to let them leave for Gaza because of the unrest in Egypt, without any serious intervention from the Palestinian embassy in Cairo.
Spokesman for the passengers Omar Siyam said the Palestinians at the airport started last Sunday an open hunger strike after the Palestinian embassy neglected their issue while all embassies in Cairo worked hard and evacuated all their nationals from the airport.
Siyam noted that two Palestinians there are in critical health condition and one of them was transferred to hospital after the deterioration of his health.
http://bit.ly/hlBney
Hamas: Adili investigation implies incitement against resistance movement
DAMASCUS, (PIC)-- Hamas said notices submitted against former Egyptian Minister of Interior Habib Al-Adili by the state prosecutor linking him to the Alexandria church bombing reveals the minister's involvement in unjust political accusations against Palestinian resistance.
The Islamic movement said in a statement on Tuesday that accusations against Palestinian resistance of targeting the Church of Saints was designed to incite the world against the Palestinians, distort the resistance movement and justify the economic blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Hamas said Egypt's Ministry of Interior headed by Adili itself is under suspicion of atrocities against Muslim and Christian Egyptians to investigate suspected targets.
The policy of media disinformation and incitement against the Palestinians are not limited to the former minister, but rather is the practice of many state organizations in Egypt, the statement says, adding that the people's revolution is being exploited to spread lies in the Egyptian media about Hamas and the Palestinians.
Hamas demanded disclosure and accountability of all those involved in incitement against the Palestinians. It said it is committed to the security of Arab and Islamic countries as a strategy to counter the Israeli occupation.
http://bit.ly/dLfmVy
Nasrallah exposes Israel's Egypt plot
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has revealed to the Arab and Islamic world another Israeli scenario regarding the Egyptian revolution.
Israel is putting pressure on every political circle in the world to protect Mubarak's regime, Nasrallah said in his speech on Monday.
He noted that the recent revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia have made Israel reconsider its national security strategies as it finds itself isolated in the Middle East after losing its regional allies, one by one.
Nasrallah warned that some accuse the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions of being the creations of the United States and its military and intelligence agencies.
The Hezbollah chief described such accusations as unjust and an insult to both North African nations.
Who can believe that the US is deliberately trying to overthrow a regime that meets all the demands of the US administration, a regime which is protecting US interests and projects in the region? he argued.
Nasrallah also warned the people and all resistance movements, They (the US) are trying to present themselves as if they defend the people and their rights and will, after years of supporting one of the worst dictatorships that we have seen in our region.
As public opinion polls conducted by US academic institutions show, the majority of the people in the region are against US policies, he pointed out.
Nasrallah noted that as a result, If people move against a regime in a certain country, the US administration will stand in the middle ground, and it will not support bloody confrontations with the people, because it knows the results will be catastrophic for itself and its allies.
It tries to present itself as a protector of the people and tries to guarantee some kind of a transition of power to an authority or to a leadership, which preserves its relationship with it and protects its interests, he added.
Nasrallah explained that the US has no problem with the ideologies of the regimes and its only concern is that the regime should be committed to American and Israeli interests.
Millions of Egyptians have, for two weeks, taken to the streets across crisis-hit Egypt to call for an end to three decades of the Mubarak regime. More than 300 people are estimated to have been killed since the protests began on January 25.
Hostility toward the United States is widespread among the protesters as they hold Washington responsible for Mubarak's continued grip on power. Demonstrators say they will not leave the streets until he steps down.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/164239.html
Wael Ghonim is Free: First Words English Subs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axQ-pwKLrb0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjimpQPQDuU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW59LZsjE_g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V690GO7YzgA
Israel worried over US stance on Egypt
The US move to abandon Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak has alarmed Israeli leaders of a similar shift in Washington's policy on its other old allies, including Tel Aviv.
"One gets the impression that Washington was pretty anxious to throw Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak overboard" once he became a cumbersome ally, AFP quoted a senior Israeli figure on Monday as saying on condition of anonymity.
"Even if the American position has become more nuanced in the last few days, it doesn't make it any less of a desertion. That's what is most worrying," he went on to say.
He described loyalty as "priceless," especially in the Middle East and warned that the decision by Washington to suddenly withdraw support for the Egyptian president could question the credibility of the US foreign policy.
He also criticized the "confusion and incoherence of the American positions," referring to the move by the Obama administration to hastily distance itself from a declaration of support by an influential retired diplomat at the weekend.
Israel has been apparently concerned at the likely ouster Mubarak and losing a 30-year-old ally with a possible rise of Islamic-oriented, anti-Western power in Cairo.
The worries over Washington's reluctance to back Mubarak are also echoed in Israeli media, which have warned the same fate would be awaiting Tel Aviv.
"Everyone understands that Mubarak has to go, but we would expect the US administration to give him backing and not dissociate itself from him," the Israeli Yediot Aharonot daily said.
"For decades he was the mainstay of the West%u2026And when the US does this to the Egyptian president, what should any other ally of the US think?"
Analysts, however, indicate that the influence of powerful Zionist lobbies in the US immunes Israel from a change in Washington's foreign policy.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/164299.html
Don't let Israel meddle in Egypt: Erdogan
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has asked the United States to prevent Israel from meddling in the popular revolution in Egypt.
"Israel must under no circumstance interfere" in what is happening in Egypt, Turkish daily Hurriyet quoted Erdogan as saying on Monday.
The Turkish leader made the remark on the way back from Syria, where he attended the opening ceremony of a joint construction project, dubbed the "Friendship Dam."
Erdogan said he had asked US President Barack Obama and Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou to intervene to stop a possible last-ditch effort by Israel to %u201Cturn the tide%u201D against protesters demanding the ouster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
The paper interpreted Erdogan's reference to the Greek leader as indicative of a possible deal between Tel Aviv and Athens %u201Cto cozy up to each other in an effort to give the appearance that they are standing together against Turkey."
Many Israeli leaders have voiced concerns over the widespread revolt in Egypt, fearing the prospect of losing a three-decade-long ally and a key partner in their blockade of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
On Wednesday, Erdogan expressed Ankara's support for the current democratic movement in Egypt, urging Mubarak to respect his people's desire for change and step down immediately.
In an official letter on Tuesday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit protested at the call, urging Turkey not to publish more statements that can harm the relations between the two countries.
According to the UN estimates, more than 300 people have been killed and many others have been injured during anti-Mubarak protests which now enter the third consecutive week.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/164287.html
Israel plans to wall off Egypt
Israeli President Shimon Peres
Israel is set to put up an electronic security barrier on the border with Egypt as the anti-Tel Aviv sentiment is on the rise in the North African nation.
Israeli President Shimon Peres ordered the immediate construction of the wall at a conference in the seaside town of Herzliya, north of Tel Aviv, Israel's Foreign Ministry reported on Monday.
The decision comes as a popular revolution in Egypt against the three-decade rule of Israel's long-time ally Hosni Mubarak has raised serious concerns in Tel Aviv.
Politicians at the Herzliya meeting pointed to the complexity of the situation in the Middle East and expressed concern over the possible developments in the future.
Peres also insisted on an immediate resolution to Israeli-Palestinian conflicts so that %u201Creal issues of the Middle East%u201D could be addressed.
"The dramatic events of recent days raise the need to remove the Israeli- Palestinian conflict from the daily agenda as soon as possible because the conflict is being exploited to the detriment of both sides," Peres said.
Head of the Israeli army's planning directorate and the foreign ministry's director general, in their speeches, warned of more severe crises in the year to come.
Informed sources, meanwhile, insist that the recent developments in Egypt and their impact on other Arab nations are indicative of more hassles underway for Israel.
Israel has given its full support to Mubarak despite widespread calls in Egypt demanding that the dictator leave the Egyptian soil.
To prevent a revolution in the country, Israel earlier allowed Egypt to deploy its troops to the Sinai Peninsula in contrast to an agreement between Cairo and Tel Aviv to leave the peninsula demilitarized.
But fearing a complete breakdown of the treaty, Israel refused Egypt's request for more troops in the region.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/164260.html
Nasrallah: Egypt's uprising will change the face of the region
BEIRUT, (PIC)-- Secretary-general of Hezbollah Hasan Nasrallah on Monday hailed the Egyptian youths in Attahrir square, saying their uprising would change the face of the region.
In a screened speech, Nasrallah described what is happening in Egypt as a very important juncture and a popular move that will be for the best interest of all peoples in the region especially in occupied Palestine.
It has always been said that Egypt is the mother of the world. This is right and you are the great people who can, with your will, faith and fortitude, change the face of the world, he highlighted.
The Hezbollah leader also lashed out at the US position towards Egypt's protests. "The Americans are trying to ride the wave, absorb and embrace the revolution, and embellish their horrendous image in the Arab and Islamic worlds."
In the same context, Arab political analysts and experts opined in press statements to the Palestinian information center (PIC) that the ouster of Hosni Mubarak would have a positive impact on the future of the Palestinian cause.
Dr. Hasan Nafa'h, a professor of political science at Cairo university, said the future of the Palestinian cause depends on the evolution of events in Egypt and the success to bring about a real change at the political level.
"The Palestinian cause can be resolved only after Mubarak packs his bags and leaves, and that is why we see Israel fear the situation in Egypt might escalate and lead to the collapse of Mubarak throne and the emergence of other forces in his place causing a coup regarding the relations with Israel and ending the peace treaty with it," Dr. Nafa'h underscored.
Researcher at Carnegie for peace institute Dr. Amr Hamzawy also said that any change that might happen in Egypt would have a positive impact on the situation in the whole region and not only Palestine.
"The situation may develop into the collapse of Abbas authority in Ramallah because of the great similarity between the two authorities, and Abbas's subordination to Mubarak; it is known in political science that if the head of the regime collapses, its followers also go down with it, and this is the thing which prompted Abbas to subdue everyone protesting in Ramallah in support of the Egyptian revolution," Dr. Hamzawy stated.
Specialist in Palestinian affairs Ibrahim Addarawi expected in his press statement to the PIC that the Egyptian uprising would achieve gains for the Palestinian cause including good diplomatic, political and economic relations between Egypt and Gaza.
For his part, noted political analyst and thinker Mohamed Heikal stated in an interview with him by Al-Jazeera satellite channel on Monday that the ruling regime in Egypt does not care about any internal sedition and is acting now as a "wounded beast" that wants to revenge itself.
Heikal suggested a number of steps as a way out of the current impasse in Egypt, most importantly, the departure of Hosni Mubarak as a head of state from the Egyptian political arena without wasting time and making excuses.
http://bit.ly/hSsixc
PA secretary-general slams Egypt's protestors as "suspicious alliance"
RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- Secretary-general of the Palestinian authority (PA) Attayeb Abdulrahim launched a scathing attack on the popular uprising in Egypt, describing what the protestors are doing as a "suspicious alliance" against the stability of the Egyptian regime.
In a press release, Abdulrahim also likened the Egyptian people's revolution to an operation room run by one maestro with the aim of undermining Egypt and its leading role in the region.
Creative chaos and attempts to create a new Sykes-Picot atmosphere in the region are among other labels used by this PA official to criticize the Egyptian people for their revolt.
"We look at the picture from a broader perspective. It is being planned by international and regional forces with the help of local tools," he claimed.
In a new development, Attahrir square demonstrators are mulling over expanding the area of protests against Hosni Mubarak and marching towards the republican palace and a number of places in order to prevent attempts to put down the revolution, according to news reports on Monday.
Meanwhile, Egypt's attorney general Abdulmajeed Mahmoud ordered the state security prosecutor's office to interrogate former interior minister Habib Al-Adli for his involvement in the bombing of the saints church in Alexandria on the new year's eve.
Egyptian lawyer Mamdouh Ramzi, based on British diplomatic leaks, filed a claim with the attorney general accusing Adli of masterminding the church terrorist attack that led to the killing of 23 citizens and the injury of 97 others.
Adli had accused on January 17 of this year, while he was still in office, a Palestinian resistance faction called the army of Islam in Gaza of carrying out the attach, but this group denied any responsibility and the Hamas-affiliated Palestinian government offered its willingness to help the Egyptian authority probe the incident.
http://bit.ly/eJKIhs 10 sep 2011, 22:07 , Respect -
Maria 9 febr 2011
Egyptians mourn protest dead
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn_Om1bebJM
Egypt passport official: No Palestinians allowed into Egypt
CAIRO, (PIC)-- An official at the Egyptian passports authority said on Wednesday that instructions were received banning entry of Palestinians into Egypt.
The official, who wished to remain anonymous, told AFP that 12 Palestinians were deported to the places from where they came from in implementation of the orders.
A navigation official in Cairo Airport said that airlines were informed not to carry Palestinians into Egypt.
A source in the Palestinian embassy in Cairo, who opted not to be named, affirmed the news, adding that those who have residences in Egypt, Palestinian women married to Egyptians, and those carrying diplomatic passports are exempted from the measure, which he described as "temporary".
http://bit.ly/hFlgfw
Report: Egypt used Israeli technology to disable state's internet
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- Egypt used advanced Israeli technology to disable the internet across the nation during the first week of popular revolutionary protests that began January 25, the Israeli Yediot Ahronot newspaper said.
The ruling regime was forced to ask for Israeli technology experts to block the internet in order to curb the swelling of protests that eventually demanded the ouster of President Mubarak, Ynet reported Wednesday.
The Nyrus software company designed a highly sophisticated program used to cripple the country's internet access, a leading communications source in Israel said.
The company has a deep track record of providing special technologies to the largest government internet supplier in Egypt and has also served telecom companies in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. It specializes in the production of giant computers used by intelligence agencies across the world for purposes including eavesdropping on phone calls, monitoring voice communications over the net, recording internet activities, restoring emails and disabling the web in any country when needed.
http://bit.ly/hgp38g
Mideast allies: 'US go easy on Egypt'
Some of America's Mideast allies have been pressing the Obama administration to go easy on Egypt's embattled leader and allow for a gradual transition of power.
Moderate Arab countries such as Jordan and Saudi Arabia have warned Washington that an abrupt departure of Hosni Mubarak the key demand of Egyptian anti-government protesters could strengthen militants and destabilize U.S.-backed regimes in the region.
The latest flurry of diplomatic contacts, including dozens of phone conversations between Jordan's King Abdullah II and top U.S. officials, signal growing tensions between the Obama administration and its regional allies since the outbreak of the Egyptian uprising.
The U.S. has urged its Mideast allies to be more responsive to domestic calls for reform that have intensified since protests against the Mubarak regime first erupted on Jan. 25. Arab leaders, in turn, worry Washington will pressure them into making what they consider dangerous concessions.
In recent days, Arab leaders and diplomats have cautioned Washington against pushing for rapid change in Egypt.
Jordan's king told President Barack Obama, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and other U.S. officials that there "must be a quiet and peaceful transition of power in Egypt," a Jordanian official said.
The monarch argued that Egypt's Vice President Omar Suleiman should be allowed to introduce needed reforms before Mubarak's term ends in September, the official said. "We've communicated our message very clearly and we believe that it got through," he added.
Others, like oil powerhouses Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, also cautioned the U.S. that a hasty departure by Mubarak could undermine U.S. interests, said a senior Arab diplomat based in Jordan. Like the Jordanian official, he insisted on anonymity, citing private diplomatic conversations with U.S. officials.
Earlier this week, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, told Obama that the United Arab Emirates is eager to see a smooth transition in Egypt, in line with constitutional requirements.
It's not clear whether the warnings have been heard in Washington.
The Obama administration has sent at times conflicting messages about how it envisions a transfer of power in Egypt, after nearly 30 years of rule by Mubarak, a staunch U.S. ally. The White House has called for immediate steps toward transition, though not Mubarak's resignation. Clinton has said that Mubarak's early departure could actually imperil reforms, citing restraints by Egypt's constitution.
The unrest sweeping parts of the Arab world, starting with mass protests in Tunisia several weeks ago, has placed the U.S. in a bind.
In street protests, Arab youths have called for jobs, a greater political say and the end of military rule, suppression of free speech and clampdowns on regime opponents all values advocated by the United States.
Still, concerns of U.S. allies cannot be ignored because they are vital to Washington, like the Saudi oil supplier, the Jordanian partner in the war on terrorism and Israel, which holds significant political sway in U.S. domestic politics.
Concern also is high that rapid change will strengthen Islamist groups. Three decades ago, then U.S. President Jimmy Carter urged another pro-American stalwart the shah of Iran to reform his autocratic rule, only to see his regime replaced by the Islamic Republic.
More recently, U.S.-supported elections have strengthened Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon, Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip and anti-American radicals in Iraq.
"I don't think the Americans understand yet the disaster they have pushed the Middle East into," said lawmaker Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, Mubarak's longtime friend and a former Israeli Cabinet minister. "If there are elections like the Americans want, I wouldn't be surprised if the Muslim Brotherhood wins a majority," he told Israel's Army Radio.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also cautioned that his country's peace treaty with Egypt could be at risk if Islamists came to power. While relations were often strained over the slow progress in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, Israel says Mubarak maintained a stable situation that allowed it to slash its military spending and troop presence along its border with Egypt.
While Israel declined to discuss what it conveyed to the Americans in the past two weeks, its senior officials were privately critical when Obama pressed Mubarak last week to loosen his grip on power immediately.
Fawaz Gerges, Middle Eastern politics professor at the London School of Economics, labeled Islamist fear a "scare tactic."
"The Islamist threat is a facade used and abused by Mideastern regimes in order to perpetuate their rule," he said.
Gerges said America's Arab allies "have not only resisted the administration's efforts to get Mubarak out, but they also trying to impress the administration on the risks of a swift move toward democracy in the region."
"They're not ready. They're not willing. They have no desire to do that," he said. "They are regimes that do not even know the meaning of the word democracy. They are deeply entrenched in authoritarian power and economic structures."
http://yhoo.it/gmRRac
Official: Israel keeping low profile on Egypt uprising
Israeli official estimates regime change in Egypt will be gradual; says violence problematic but 'not directed at us'
"Israel is keeping a low profile with regards to the uprising in Egypt. The last thing we wanted was to be linked to this whole affair, and despite attempts to do so by the Egyptian media and Al Jazeera, we weren't," an Israeli official told reporters on Wednesday.
"As opposed to other countries, Israel has kept its mouth shut. The violence in Egypt is problematic, but it's not directed at us. We've evacuated our envoys and their families as a precautionary measure," he said. Some of the stores that have been looted in Cairo were located in close proximity to the homes of Israeli emissaries.
"We understand Egypt is changing. There are two possible scenarios: A gradual, safe and stable regime change or a radical change perhaps towards Islam," said the official, "It doesn't appear as though the change will be drastic and radical, because that would mean an intolerable, chaotic situation."
According to the official, the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt is likely to remain intact because "it's in Egypt's interest."
Addressing the US Administration's approach to the crisis, the official said the White House has "softened" its stance towards Mubarak's government. "The Egyptian media outlets were angry with the US, but the American's are not Egypt's enemy right now; its enemies are Iran and Turkey," he said.
"The developments in Egypt and the US' conduct have surprised and shocked Arab leaders, who are thinking of their own survival now, because Egypt is a very dominant country in the Arab world," the official said.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4026342,00.html
'US pushes for Mubarak copycat in Egypt'
US President Barack Obama (L ) and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak
To preserve its interests in Egypt, Washington favors the formation of a non-democratic government similar to that of President Mubarak's regime, says the director of the the Institute for (Persian) Gulf Affairs.
"The United States is not looking to support democracy in Egypt - this is very clear from the 30 years of support that it has given to Hosni Mubarak who has been fighting against democracy and fabricating elections," Ali al-Ahmed said in an interview with Press TV.
Despite massive human rights abuse claims in the past 20 years of rule under Egypt's Emergency Law, the US continues to support Mubarak's regime with large financial and military support, says the Federation of American Scientists.
Protests against Mubarak's regime continued for the 16th day on Wednesday. Protesters often shout anti-US slogans to condemn the US support of the Egyptian president.
According to the US Congressional Research Service, the US has annually given Egypt, for over 30 years, an average of USD 2 billion with USD 1.3 billion of it going to Cairo's military force.
The Pentagon's Defense Security Assistance Agency included in its report that the Department of Defense has bartered over USD 11 billion in US arms offers to the Egyptian regime in the last decade alone.
Al-Ahmad concluded that the United States favors a regime which opposes Iran and follows Israeli policies with regard to the Palestinian issue.
Egypt was the first Arab country to normalize its ties with Israel and sign a peace accord with Tel Aviv.
The government in Cairo has also helped Tel Aviv in its blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has a common border with Egypt.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/164418.html
Israel raises military budget
In response to massive anti-government protests in neighboring Egypt, Israel has increased its military budget, local media report.
The Knesset's Finance Committee on Sunday approved an extra NIS 700 million (USD 190 million) for the defense ministry after days of unrest in Israel's southern neighbor, Egypt.
Defense ministry officials, however, refused to specify the mode of expenditure, saying details will only be given to a joint subcommittee of the Knesset Finance and Foreign Affairs and Defense committees.
According to military sources, Israel is planning to significantly bolster its presence along the border with Egypt.
Member of Knesset Hiam Oron, the chairman of Meretz party, criticized the finance committee for approving the new budget.
"We're talking about a budget beyond what was agreed upon. If there are budget reserves, maybe they ought to be used for other issues, such as welfare and education," Oron said.
Meanwhile, the Knesset finance committee has said that it may allocate more money in case of a future request from the army.
Anxiously monitoring political developments in Egypt, Tel Aviv has repeatedly expressed fears that the implications of regime change in Egypt, one of the country's only friends in the Arab world, would be enormous in Israel.
Egypt, which shares a long border with Israel, was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Tel Aviv in 1979 following days of secret negotiations at Camp David, the US.
"The defense budget was more than 30 percent of the gross domestic product before 1979 and went down to 7 percent after the peace treaty. One reason for Israel's economic prosperity is that it could decrease the defense budget for all those years," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last week.
Many Egyptian protesters, however, believe that the treaty did not result in an end to the Israeli occupation and oppose it.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/164428.html
Israel openly opposes democracy in ME
Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's second-in-command has strictly rejected the establishment of democracy in Egypt, alleging it could have dire consequences.
Deputy Premier Silvan Shalom said attempts at promotion of democracy in Egypt could strengthen what he called radical elements in the country, said Israeli website The Marker, a subdivision of the Ha'aretz newspaper.
He asserted, We know that, recently in the Middle East, democratic elections have caused the accession to power of radicals like Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The resistance movements, who owe their presence in the defense and political arenas to popular consensus, have invariably defended the Palestinians and Lebanese against deadly Israeli invasions.
Think of what would happen if the radicals become dominant over Egypt and decide to close the Suez Canal, he said.
The comments came amid popular revolution in Egypt against the country's three-decade-long President Hosni Mubarak's regime.
The uprising, which entered its 16th straight day on Wednesday, has been severely confronted by Egyptian security forces. More than 300 people have lost their lives since the popular movements began, reports say.
Israel has, however, supported Mubarak's stay in power.
To prevent the revolution, Israel has also allowed Egypt to deploy troops to Sinai Peninsula despite a Tel Aviv-Cairo peace agreement, which has kept the peninsula demilitarized for decades.
US diplomatic cables, exposed by British newspaper The Telegraph on Monday, showed that Tel Aviv preferred Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman to succeed Mubarak.
Suleiman, who was appointed as VP on January 29, kept daily contact with Tel Aviv through a secret hotline, the cables said, and noted that he also had very good ties with Israeli figures.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/164424.html
Palestinians face uncertain reception a Cairo airport
NABLUS/GAZA (Ma'an) -- An official at the Palestinian Embassy in Cairo denied reports that Palestinians were being denied entry into Egypt, saying all those with residence permits could access the country freely.
The director of the Egyptian borders authority, however, told AFP that the entry of at least 12 Palestinians had been denied, saying they were expelled from the country after landing in Cairo. The ban, he said, would be temporary and not apply to those already in Cairo.
On Tuesday, Hamas officials in Gaza said there were at least ten Palestinians being held in the Cairo airport. The men and women had been traveling home from study and medical treatments abroad, but were refused access to the country, they said, because of the unrest.
The Rafah crossing, through which the men and women would return home, was closed during the first week of protests in Egypt, and no date for its re-opening has been set.
Hamas said the party was "deeply concerned" about the matter, and accused the Palestinian embassy in Cairo of inaction.
The embassy official said the reports were "not true," citing contact with Egyptian authorities who "told us that any Palestinian with residence can enter through the currently opened crossings."
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=358165
Israel's Barak in US for top-level talks
JERUSALEM (AFP) -- Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak is to hold a series of top-level talks in Washington later on Wednesday which Israeli media say will center on the unfolding crisis in Egypt.
Barak left Israel on Tuesday for a two-day visit to Washington and New York, and is expected to meet US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and National Security chief Tom Donilon, his office said.
He is to brief Congress on Wednesday and later meet with senior White House adviser Dennis Ross alongside a number of other top defense and intelligence officials, his office said, without saying what would be on the agenda.
Media reports said he will also meet UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in New York.
The English-language Jerusalem Post and the Ynet news website both said Barak's visit will focus on the Egyptian unrest and its impact on Israel and the strategic balance in the region.
With the Mubarak regime under threat of collapse, Israel fears a power vacuum could be exploited by Islamist elements determined to rescind the 1979 peace treaty between the two countries.
http://maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=358410
Nilesat lifts Al-Jazeera ban
The Egyptian satellite company Nilesat lifted Wednesday morning a ban on Al-Jazeera and Al-Jazeera Live, giving the Qatar-based channels access to the same bands widths they had used before the restrictions, Reuters reported.
In the two days following the outbreak of protests at the end of January, the Egyptian Ministry of Information had given directives to Nilesat to drop Al-Jazeera signals in Egypt, and later on across the Middle East.
At the same time Egyptian authorities revoked press cards of Al-Jazeera correspondents, but the journalists continued to report via telephone and used frequencies temporarily donated by nine other Egyptian and Mideastern stations.
Following the cut in service, Al-Jazeera threatened to sue Nilesat if they were not permitted to resume broadcasts.
During the first week of protests, Al-Jazeera officials said their offices near Tahrir Square were vandalized and reporters attacked by pro-government supporters.
http://maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=358380
Nile: Fatah cadres bombed the gas pipeline, crackdowns launched to find them
CAIRO, (PIC)-- Nile satellite channel said the Egyptian popular committees deployed throughout Al-Arish area initiated a campaign to pursue and find members of Fatah faction on suspicion of their involvement in the bombing of a gas pipeline leading to Jordan a few days ago.
The channel said on Tuesday that the popular committees spotted some Palestinians and security elements affiliated with Fatah moving in the area where the explosion happened, noting that these Fatah members were living in Al-Arish area.
Press sources had talked earlier that Palestinians from Fatah residing in Egypt participated in the attacks waged by groups of thugs and mercenaries on peaceful anti-regime protests in recent days.
Egyptian activists also accused the Egyptian regime of being behind the bombing of the gas line in a bid to convince the world that its absence could cause security chaos and harm the Zio-American interests in the region.
Protests in Egypt have entered their sixteenth day, following probably the biggest number of anti-regime demonstrators in Cairo's Attahrir square yet.
Protesters still refuse to leave the square until their demands for Hosni Mubarak's resignation were met.
On the "Love of Egypt Day" yesterday as protesters called it, millions of Egyptians in different provinces rallied against Mubarak.
In Cairo, massive crowds on Tuesday gathered outside the parliament, the Shura council and the ministry of interior as well as in Ramses square.
http://bit.ly/hHUfrc
Fatah had nothing to do with pipeline blast: ambassador
Palestinian ambassador to Cairo Barakat Al-Farra said Wednesday that Egyptian media reports had accused Fatah-affiliates of being behind a blast that targeted the Israel-Egypt-Jordan gas pipeline in the Sinai last week.
The blast hit a line of the Israeli-Egyptian gas company, East Mediterranean Gas, on Saturday and destroyed a measuring station at the Jordanian sub-line. The attack on the line came as Egyptian cities were rocked with mass protests against the 30-year rule of President Hosni Mubarak.
Hamas had initially come under suspicion for the attack, but officials said their fighters had nothing to do with the incident.
According to Al-Farra, Fatah next came under suspicion.
'Fatah leaders and members appreciate the noble role Egypt has been playing, and thus no Fatah member could play any role in breaching security and stability in this brother country," the official said in a Wednesday statement.
He said the reports that Fatah was involved came from members of the local activist committee in the Egyptian Rafah, who he said told local TV stations that Fatah members from the Gaza Strip were behind the gas terminal blast. He added that there had been no official complaint to the embassy over the issue.
"We definitely care about stability and security in Egypt which we consider the major guarantor to our cause. It is a country we love and respect and we wish Egypt peace, stability and prosperity," Al-Farra said.
He added, "No Fatah member can cross to Egypt through tunnels because Hamas keeps a firm grip on Fatah members," he continued, saying he was sure that no member was involved.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=358303
UK to Israel: Drop negative stance on Egypt
British Foreign Secretary Hague urges Jewish state to tone down its 'belligerent' language in wake of uprising in neighboring country. This attitude means efforts at peace could 'be a casualty of uncertainty in the region,' he warns.
UK unsatisfied with Israel's response to political developments in Cairo: British Foreign Secretary William Hague is urging Israel to tone down its "belligerent" language in the wake of the recent uprising in Egypt, the Guardian newspaper reported Tuesday night.
Speaking to reporters before leaving on a visit to North African and Middle Eastern countries, including Israel, the foreign secretary warned that the Middle East peace process was in danger of falling victim to the revolutionary tide sweeping the Arab world.
"Amidst the opportunity for countries like Tunisia and Egypt, there is a legitimate fear that the Middle East peace process will lose further momentum and be put to one side, and will be a casualty of uncertainty in the region," Hague said in an interview with The Times en route to Jordan.
He added that "part of the fear is that uncertainty and change will complicate the process still further. That means there is a real urgency for the Israelis and the United States. Recent events mean this is an even more urgent priority and that's a case we are putting to the Israeli Government and in Washington."
According to the British minister, "This should not be a time for belligerent language. It's a time to inject greater urgency into the Middle East peace process."
He said he planned to convey similar messages to Arab leaders in his emergency tour of the region, emphasising that Britain will speak up for political and economic freedom, but explicitly acknowledging that in different countries change will take time according to their cultures."
Between Egypt and Iran
The British foreign secretary made these remarks on the backdrop of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statement that Egypt may follow in Iran's footsteps, oppress its own people and threaten neighboring countries.
Speaking Monday at the European Friends of Israel conference at the Knesset, Netanyahu said that various potential scenarios exist in Egypt at this time, beyond the liberal democratic models including secular reforms, an Islamist takeover, or Egypt following the Iran example.
The Obama administration conveyed a calming message to Jerusalem on Tuesday, promising that regional instability in the Middle East would not affect US relations with Israel.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs was responding to criticisms that the US administration had turned its back on a key ally, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, after protesters called on him to step down. Some wondered whether it could do the same to Israel.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4025922,00.html