[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Egypt and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Egypt Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week`s roundup to egypt@jadaliyya.com by Sunday night of every week.]
Regional and International Relations
Sisi: Weapons Deal to be Financed by French Govt.
The 5.2 billion Euros weapons deal between Egypt and France to be partially financed by France in a 3.2 billion Euros loan.
Sisi’s Upcoming Visit to Saudi Arabia: Mission Possible?
Dina Ezzat writes, “On Sunday, Egypt`s president will work to consolidate the strategic alliance between Cairo and Riyadh as the new rulers of Al-Saud ponder new regional priorities.”
Exclusive: Sisi Talks on Relations with Saudi Arabia
In an interview with Al-Arabiya news channel, al-Sisi spoke of the strong historical relations between Egypt and Saudi Arabia a day before his visit to the Kingdom on Sunday.
Sisi: Apologizes to the Emir of Qatar Abuses of Egyptian Media to His Mother Mozah
President al-Sisi personally apologizes to Emir of Qatar.
Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia Receive Offers for Nile Dam Studies
“Egypt`s irrigation ministry spokesman says countries to choose firm by first week of March.”
Russia Backs Draft Security Council Resolution on Libya, says Egyptian FM
“Egypt`s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry will visit Moscow for two days starting Tuesday, reports Russia Sputnik news.”
About 12,000 Egyptians Flee Libya from Salloum Crossing after IS Beheaded Twenty Copts
Marina Barsoum writes, “In response to beheading of Egyptians at hands of IS militants, official says about 12,000 Egyptians returned through the Salloum border crossing.”
Egyptian Embassy in Yemen Closes, Diplomatic Mission Returns to Egypt
Ahram Online reports.
Libya: The Battlefield of the New Arab Cold War
Vijay Prashad analyzes the regional situation in the Middle East and North Africa in light of the latest development in Libya.
Security
Egypt`s War on ISIS: A Brief History
Joel Gulhane analyzes Egypt’s war on IS militarily and ideologically.
Egypt Military Says 173 “Terrorists” Kill in February Campaign
The 173 killed “terrorists” were killed as result of a strategic plan in all three cities of Northern Sinai.
Sinai: States of Fear
Lina Attalah and Heba Afify write, “Egypt`s military and militant Islamists both make civilians pay for their war over Sinai.”
Wave of Bombings in Cairo Kills One, Injures at Least Seven
A series of six bombs exploded in Cairo, Mada Masr reports.
Economy
Economic Summit to Set Egypt’s Vision for Investment Climate: EJB
Abdelrazik al-Shuwekhi writes, “Investors relying on legislation reforms governing the investment climate during upcoming period.”
A Timeline of Gas Deals
Isabel Esterman tracks gas deals since early 2014.
Human Rights and Legal Institutions
Ministry Closes 112 NGOs for Alleged MB Ties
Egypt’s Ministry of Social Solidarity closes the Muslim Brotherhood-linked NGOs.
Egyptian Lawyers Protest Alleged Police Killing of Colleague
“Lawyer Karim Hamdy was allegedly tortured to death at a police station in Matariya.”
Autopsy Shows Lawyer was Tortured to Death at Matareya Police Station
“Recently deceased lawyer Karim Hamdy was tortured to death at the notorious Matareya police station, an autopsy report released on Thursday concluded,” Mada Masr reports.
Rights Groups: Five Years in Prison for Expressing an Opinion
Rights organizations release a statement on the five-year sentence of activists in Shura case.
Egypt`s Sisi Signs Law Defining `Terrorist Entities`
“The law is applied to individuals or entities even if their acts are directed against foreign countries.”
Egypt Postpones Retrial of Two Al-Jazeera Journalists
Trail of Baher Mohamed and Mohamed Fahmy postponed to 8 March.
Parliamentary Elections
Court Rules Election Laws Unconstitutional, Parliament Elections Postponed
Mada Masr reports on the Supreme Constitutional Court’s verdict deeming the constituency division law unconstitutional, and hence, postponing parliamentary elections which were expected to be held in March and April 2015.
The Egyptian Parliament: A Presidential Right to Dissolution
Youssef Auf analyzes constitutional laws pertaining to the legislative branch.
Reports and Opinions
The Egyptian Pope’s Risky Partisanship
Johannes Makar argues, “Pope Tawadros II, the main political voice of the Coptic community, has seemingly allied with President Sisi, but this comes at the expense of defending Coptic rights.” This article is published in Arabic.
Deal with Arabtec to Build One Million Houses Suspended: Local Media
Mada Masr reports.
Egypt’s Government Assuages Minya Families after Weeks of Silence
Ishak Ibrahim highlights the government’s response to the victims’ families of the twenty Egyptians beheaded by IS in Libya.
Report Thy Neighbor: Policing Sisi`s Egypt
Maha Abdelrahem writes, “A regime bereft of legitimacy, save for its promise to guarantee national security, turns citizens into active players in a new culture of surveillance and reporting.”
Al-Azhar Top Cleric Calls for Religious Teaching Reform
Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyib calls for radical reform of religious teachings.
Arabic
تحت الحصار: 10 قرى حاصرتها الشرطة المصرية
Alaa El-Din al-Sayyed sheds light on the ten villages under siege since the military coup.
بعد صفقة «رافال» الفرنسية.. روسيا تغزو مصر بـمج 35 وسوخوي
Following France’s weapons deal, Russia and Egypt are working on a weapons deal as well.
وما أدراك ما الأزهر
Ayman al-Sayyad analyzes Al-Azhar’s stance toward religious extremism.
مطالبات بإقالة رئيس «بترو تريد».. والعمال: فترة «السيسى» أشد قمعًا
Heba al-Beih reports on workers’ protests in petroleum company “Petrotrade.”
قانون الكيانات الإرهابية يسهل وصم المنظمات الحقوقية والأحزاب السياسية بالإرهاب
The Egyptian Initiatives for Personal Rights argues “terrorist entities” law designates rights organizations and political parties as terrorists. This statement is released in English.
جنوب السودان ملاذ القاهرة لتأمين إمدادات جديدة من مياه النيل
Ayah Aman writes, “Egypt is implementing several water development projects in South Sudan as the negotiations with Ethiopia over the Renaissance Dam have yet to yield tangible results.” This article is published in English.
ختان الإناث أزمة حقيقيّة في القرى المصريّة
Walaa Hussain writes, “Although the practice of female genital mutilation in Egypt has decreased, the phenomenon is still omnipresent in villages, prompting civil society and the government to initiate a campaign to raise awareness.” This article is published in English.
قانون جديد للاستثمار في مصر
Rami Galal writes, “The Egyptian government is considering a new law to help ease the obstacles investors face and attract future investments.” This article is published in English.
الإعلام المصري يعزل سيناء عن مصر
Al-Monitor correspondent in Sinai writes, “Egyptian media has been accused of trivializing the situation in Sinai, which either castigates or ignores residents while they are being beheaded by Islamic extremists for cooperating with the army in its anti-terrorism campaign against them.” This article is published in English.
إلى المنحازين للمستقبل: ليس جلدًا للذات
Ahmed Abu Hussain reflects on political divisions in Egypt.
الإخوان وتبني العنف: الوجه المُفَكك للتنظيم
Omar Said analyzes the internal organization of the Muslim Brotherhood following the Egyptian regime’s crackdown on the Islamist group.
نيكسون 1974 – بوتين 2015: الثابت والمتغير فى السياسة المصرية
Abdelazim Hammad compares and contrasts the situation in Egypt during US President Nixon’s visit to Egypt in 1974 and Russia’s Putin in 2015.
السيسي يطالب الحكومة بتعديل قانون تقسيم الدوائر خلال شهر من الآن وتلافي أوجه عدم الدستورية
Al-Sisi calls for amending constituency law within a month following the Supreme Court’s.
Articles on Jadaliyya Egypt
Minyan Village Mourns: A Photographic Essay
Jonathan Rashad releases photo essay on the Coptic Egyptians’ families in mourning following IS beheading of twenty Egyptians in Libya.
Burj el Imam: Music by Sharif Sehnaoui, Raed Yassin and Alan Bishop
Medrar TV reports on musicians Sharif Sehnaoui, Raed Yassin, and Alan Bishop’s performance in Cairo.