Egypt

Continuity of Agenda: Destroying Syria Since 1983

The conspiracy theory rearing its ugly head once more.  New Eastern Outlook, by Tony Cartalucci

Syria’s current conflict, beginning in 2011, was the culmination of decades of effort by the United States to subvert and overthrow the government in Damascus. From training leaders of opposition fronts years before “spontaneous” protests erupted across Syria, to covertly building a multinational mercenary force to both trigger and leverage violence thereafter, the United States engineered, executed, and perpetuated virtually every aspect of Syria’s destructive conflict.

Enlisting or coercing aid from regional allies, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Jordan, and Israel, Syria found itself surrounded at its borders and buried within them by chaos.

“Bringing Real Muscle to Bear Against Syria” 

But recently revealed CIA documents drawn from the US National Archives portrays recent efforts to undermine and overthrow the Syrian government and the Syrian conflict’s relationship with neighboring Lebanon and its ally Iran as merely the most recent leg in a decades-long campaign to destabilize and overturn regional governments obstructing US interests.

A 1983 document signed by former CIA officer Graham Fuller titled, “Bringing Real Muscle to Bear Against Syria” (PDF), states (their emphasis):

Syria at present has a hammerlock on US interests both in Lebanon and in the Gulf — through closure of Iraq’s pipeline thereby threatening Iraqi internationalization of the [Iran-Iraq] war. The US should consider sharply escalating the pressures against Assad [Sr.] through covertly orchestrating simultaneous military threats against Syria from three border states hostile to Syria: Iraq, Israel and Turkey. 

The report also states:

If Israel were to increase tensions against Syria simultaneously with an Iraqi initiative, the pressures on Assad would escalate rapidly. A Turkish move would psychologically press him further. 

The document exposes both then and now, the amount of influence the US exerts across the Middle East and North Africa. It also undermines the perceived agency of states including Israel and NATO-member Turkey, revealing their subordination to US interests and that actions taken by these states are often done on behalf of Wall Street and Washington rather than on behalf of their own national interests.

Also mentioned in the document are a variety of manufactured pretexts listed to justify a unilateral military strike on northern Syria by Turkey. The  document explains:

Turkey has considered undertaking a unilateral military strike against terrorist camps in northern Syria and would not hesitate from using menacing diplomatic language against Syria on these issues.

Comparing this signed and dated 1983 US CIA document to more recent US policy papers reveals a very overt continuity of agenda.

Decades-Spanning Continuity of Agenda 

The corporate-financier funded policy think tank, Brookings Institution, published a 2012 document titled, “Saving Syria: Assessing Options for Regime Change” (PDF), which stated:

Some voices in Washington and Jerusalem are exploring whether Israel could contribute to coercing Syrian elites to remove Asad.

The report continues by explaining:

Israel could posture forces on or near the Golan Heights and, in so doing, might divert regime forces from suppressing the opposition. This posture may conjure fears in the Asad regime of a multi-front war, particularly if Turkey is willing to do the same on its border and if the Syrian opposition is being fed a steady diet of arms and training. Such a mobilization could perhaps persuade Syria’s military leadership to oust Asad in order to preserve itself.

Just as the CIA sought to covertly apply pressure on Syria via Iraq, Israel, and Turkey in 1983, it seeks to do so today. Instead of to simply reopen a pipeline perceived as vital to the Iraqi war effort vis-a-vis Iran in the 1980s, the goal now is regime change altogether.

It should be noted that, in addition to the 1983 CIA document, US support for violent subversion in Syria during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War also included the 1982 Muslim Brotherhood uprising and its subsequent defeat by Syrian forces within Syria – an almost verbatim analogue to the 2011 unrest that led to the current Syrian conflict – also organized and carried out by US-backed elements of the Muslim Brotherhood.

It should also be noted that while the 2011 conflict in Syria began under the administration of US President Barack Obama – according to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh’s article, “The Redirection: Is the Administration’s new policy benefitting our enemies in the war on terrorism?” – planning, training, and staging began at least as early as 2007 under the administration of US President George Bush.

A concerted, continuous conspiracy to manipulate events across the Middle East and North Africa and project American hegemony throughout the region spanning now seven US presidencies is perhaps the most telling evidence that deeply rooted special interests – a deep state – not America’s elected representatives, crafts and executes US policy at home and abroad.

Power is Held by Unelected Special Interests, Not Elected Representatives

The notion that the recently elected US president, Donald Trump, can, is willing to, or is able to suddenly oppose the immense corporate-financier interests driving a concerted conspiracy spanning three decades lacks any basis in fact. In reality, those who President Trump surrounded himself with both during his campaign for the presidency and upon assembling his cabinet, are among the very conspirators behind this decades-long agenda.

For those who find themselves targets of US subversion and aggression, both overt and covert, understanding the deep state and the corporate-financier interests that comprise it driving these agendas is essential. Devising a means to expose, isolate, and otherwise disrupt the unwarranted power and influence they wield – rather than dealing with their political proxies in Washington – is the only way to balance the currently lopsided equation of global power.

For the American people and citizens of nations beholden to American interests, understanding that change will only come when the corporate-financier interests that constitute the deep state are confronted and decentralized, and not through elections involving proxies wholly beholden to the deep state, will be the first step toward taking back national institutions and resources hijacked by these special interests.

Tony Cartalucci, Bangkok-based geopolitical researcher and writer, especially for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook”.

via journal-neo.org

Army forces arrest 12 militants in Mount Helal inside central Sinai

Daily News Egypt

Affiliated forces pledge to continue the large-scale sweeping operation inside Mount Helal

Army units affiliated with the third field army continued the sweeping operation it has launched against militants stationed in the area of Mount Helal. The security forces managed on Tuesday to arrest 12 militants, the army’s spokesperson said in a Facebook statement.

The forces were furthermore able to seize a four wheel drive vehicle equipped with a machine gun. The vehicle also contained quantities of explosives, military clothing, and video materials related to militants, the statement explained.

“The forces managed moreover to destroy another car bomb that was prepared to be used against army and police forces. The sweeping operation also resulted in the discovery of fuel storage points, three motorbikes, and the destruction of seven terrorist stationing points,” the statement read.

The statement added that during the sweeping operation the forces burned 24 farms that grew the poppy plant, in addition to being able to arrest two wanted criminals who were trying to smuggle large amounts of money.

Since 2013, state security forces, represented in both the army and the police, have been engaged in violent clashes with “Sinai Province,” known previously as Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis. In 2014, the group declared its affiliation to IS and has launched deadly attacks on army and police checkpoints.

Over the course of the last two years, the Egyptian armed forces launched counterattacks against militant stationing points across the Sinai Peninsula, where the group is based, particularly in the cities of Sheikh Zuweid, Rafah, and Al-Arish.

via www.dailynewsegypt.com

Egypt banks cleared to repatriate foreign firms' long-held profits

Reuters

Banks, hotels and office buildings are seen around residential buildings at the center of downtown in Cairo, Egypt, November 9, 2016. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah dalsh

Egyptian banks are set to allocate about a quarter of their excess hard currency to foreign firms seeking to repatriate profits, bankers said on Tuesday, helping ease a backlog built up before the country's pound was floated in November.

Foreign companies have struggled to repatriate profits since an uprising in 2011 that drove off foreign investors and tourists, starving the import-dependent economy of hard currency and forcing it to ration dollars.

Essential items like medicines and grains were prioritized. Foreign companies seeking dollars to repatriate profits were not.

In a move aimed at luring back foreign capital and securing a $12 billion IMF loan, the central bank floated the Egyptian pound on Nov. 3, weakening it from 8.8 pounds per dollar to almost 20 in December.

The pound EGP= has strengthened in recent weeks, trading at about 15.8 on Tuesday, as pent-up demand for dollars to finance imports has cleared.

Bankers said the central bank advised them in November to begin allocating dollars for non-essential imports as a backlog in demand for essential goods receded.

Now, bankers said, the central bank had advised them to use some of that excess to accommodate repatriation requests.

An early rush of foreign firms at the banks seems unlikely, however, given that the pound remains relatively weak, analysts said.

Bankers said they were informally advised to split foreign currency three ways after covering essential requests: 50 percent for non-essential imports, 25 percent to enter interbank trading, and 25 percent for profit repatriation.

The central bank says banks have been free to allocate foreign currency as they see fit since the float.

Bankers and analysts welcomed the move, saying it would help restore investor confidence.

"Giving weight to clearing repatriation backlogs is good news for currency stabilization and should improve investor sentiment," said Hany Farahat, senior economist at Cairo-based CI Capital.

"Backlogs should disappear during fiscal year 2017-18...(This) would be a strong sign that Egypt has turned the page on the currency challenge.

In an interview last week, Central Bank Governor Tarek Amer said $13.5 billion had flowed into local banks since the pound float, enough to permit profit repatriation.

A central bank source told Reuters earlier this month that orders from companies repatriating profits made through investments in financial markets had already been met.

Two multinational companies operating in Egypt said they had not begun to repatriate profits as yet. One said it had no plans to do so soon as profits it had accumulated before the float had halved in value since.

Head of research at Naeem Brokerage, Allen Sandeep, said he did not expect companies to repatriate much now. "They're sitting on years of profits and they would rather wait until the (pound) rate appreciates more."

via www.reuters.com

Egypt's Sisi orders cabinet to help resettle Sinai Christians fleeing Islamic State

Reuters.  See the photos accompanying this article here. 

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday ordered the government to take all necessary measures to help resettle Christians who have fled Egypt's Northern Sinai after Islamic State killed several members of the community.

Hundreds of Christian families and students have fled to Ismailia, north Sinai's neighboring province, after seven Christians were killed in Arish between Jan. 30 and Thursday.

Islamic State, which is waging an insurgency there, claimed responsibility for the killings, five of which were shootings. One man was beheaded and another set on fire.

Sisi held a meeting on Saturday with the prime minister, ministers of defense, interior, intelligence among other officials to discuss "the importance to resist all attempts to sabotage stability and security in Egypt," the statement said.

Sisi had also "directed the government to take all necessary measures to facilitate settlements for citizens in their set resettled areas."

Orthodox Copts, who comprise about 10 percent of Egypt's 90 million people, are the Middle East's largest Christian community. They have long complained of persecution.

In December, Islamic state claimed responsibility for bombing a chapel adjoining Cairo's St Mark's Cathedral, the seat of the Coptic papacy, killing 28 people, mostly women and children.

Egypt is battling an insurgency that gained pace in 2013 after the military, led by Sisi, overthrew President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood. Hundreds of soldiers and police have been killed.

(Reporting by Amina Ismail)

via www.reuters.com

Egypt Desperately Needs a Friend Right Now

Foreign Policy, by JAMES STAVRIDIS—worth reposting in entirety

As Donald Trump’s administration begins to think about how best to craft a bilateral relationship with Egypt, it would do well to consider the ancient myth of the Egyptian sphinx. In Greek mythology, the sphinx, a creature with the body of a lion and the head of a man, was malevolent. But in ancient Egypt, it was thought of as a benevolent guardian of temples, armed with ferocious strength and granted deep wisdom by the gods.

The government of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, like the mythic sphinx, is a bundle of contradictions with the potential to either be a problem or an important partner. The Trump administration’s task will be to craft a mutually beneficial policy that nudges the relationship — and the broader Middle East — in a productive direction.

These are challenging times for Egypt. After the roiling political events of Tahrir Square and the Arab Spring, this vital Arab Sunni-majority state of more than 90 million people has been adrift. President Sisi’s government has brought a level of stability back to the country (at the expense of greater human rights concerns), but it has yet to plot a realistic longer-term trajectory. This poses enormous risks — and not only for Egypt. A destabilized Egypt would become a magnet for the Islamic State and a rich source of recruitment and resources for the jihadi group.

During a recent series of discussions between American defense experts and the Egyptian government, several key themes of its thinking emerged. First, Egypt sees itself as an anchor of stability and security in the Middle East. Led by a technocratic team assembled by President Sisi, the Egyptian government’s theme is “safe before perfect,” meaning it will try to improve on human rights but the top priority is ensuring day-to-day safety on the streets and freedom from terrorism.

Second, the government is seeking to drive economic growth, which was fairly robust in the last fiscal year (about 4.2 percent) despite a sharp decline in tourism. It is doing this by working to attract foreign direct investment, partnering with Israel in joint ventures and technology, and re-energizing the tourist trade.

Third, Egyptians want to ensure the protection of the Suez Canal, an important source of revenue for the nation and a symbol to the global shipping and logistics community for which Egypt feels responsible. Fourth and finally, Egypt is highly committed to its relationship with Israel and the United States but will seek additional, potentially unconventional partners.

Although Egypt is facing terrorism from within, including flickers of the so-called Islamic State trying to penetrate the country, the security and intelligence services are doing a reasonable job controlling the threat. They are watching both Libya to the west and events in Gaza to the east with a wary eye, and cooperation with both U.S. and Israeli intelligence services is good. Economically, growth may pick up if tourism improves, and unemployment has declined a full percentage point. The annual budget deficit has dropped 10 percent. Both corruption and excessive bureaucracy plague some industries (agriculture, textiles, manufacturing), but the government is well-aware of those problems and expending significant effort to correct them. Egyptians also need to improve the use of financial technology in their economy, which is still 90 percent “cash and carry,” with all the inherent inefficiencies and vulnerability to corruption.

How can the United States help Egyptians continue in a positive trajectory? Where do U.S. interests best align with Egypt’s?

First and foremost, we must ensure a good working relationship between Israel and Egypt. This is already a positive partnership that has significant security, intelligence-sharing, and commercial benefits for both sides. The United States can improve it by encouraging higher levels of military-to-military contact. Fortunately, the new U.S. defense secretary — former head of U.S. Central Command Gen. James Mattis — knows all the players well from his days in uniform. He should make a very early trip to both capitals and emphasize the importance of the relationship, backing it up with sensible levels of military funding and technology. We also need to be cautious with potentially controversial ideas like moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem — something that would be explosive among ordinary Egyptians.

A second key relationship from the U.S. perspective — one that has become increasingly tense — is that between Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Riyadh seeks to lead the Sunni world and wants a willing — some would say compliant — partner in Cairo. Egyptians correctly view themselves as leaders in their own right and are unwilling to simply follow Saudi dictates on Yemen (where Riyadh has taken the lead in a war against Houthi rebels) and other difficult regional issues. The two nations also have a not inconsequential dispute over islands in the Red Sea that continues to strain bilateral ties. The United States should work hard to help these two critical allies see that the dangers posed by Shiite Iran are the main security issue in the region. New Secretary of State Rex Tillerson should make an early stop in Riyadh and Cairo.

Third, the United States can help by encouraging economic growth in Egypt. Engagement between the U.S. and Egyptian governments confers international legitimacy on the latter that can help it unlock foreign direct investment. In this sense, Trump’s call early in his presidency with Sisi was a smart move. The United States can also provide diplomatic support for Egypt in international economic bodies including the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, as well as in U.N. forums. The Trump administration should also recognize that immigration to the United States is an important economic issue for Egypt. The United States should recognize the need for legitimate travel to America for Egyptian students, business leaders, academics, and others who can help serve effectively as cultural ambassadors.

Fourth, we should work with our Egyptian partners to ensure the security of the Suez Canal, a vital global waterway and a key part of the maritime commons. This will require even better levels of intelligence sharing, developing new technological solutions for surveillance, creative counterterrorism exercises, and frequent exchanges of industrial maritime information.

Lastly, the United States can encourage regional partnerships for Egypt beyond the traditional ones with Israel and Saudi Arabia. The potential for maritime and hydrocarbon operations in the eastern Mediterranean make both Greece and Cyprus potential partners. We also shouldn’t forget that NATO has a robust program of regional cooperation in the Mediterranean for non-NATO states, called the “Mediterranean Dialogue.” This could be a good venue for cultivating such connections.

Overall, Egypt’s interests intertwine with America’s in powerful ways, most notably (though not solely) as a crucial partner for Israel. Americans should do all they can to help their Egyptian partners. Their stability and success will be essential for the eventual progress of the entire region.

via foreignpolicy.com

IS lashes out at Egypt and threatens Salafis, Sunnis, MB and Copts

Middle East Eye

IS video threatens to increase its attacks on Christians and labels Muslim Brotherhood, Salafists, and Azharis as 'apostates'

Egyptians hold vigil for victims of attack on Coptic church on 11 December, 2016 (AFP)

The Islamic State group has threatened Coptic Christians, the Muslim Brotherhood, Salafists, and al-Azhar clerics in wide-ranging video promising more attacks in Egypt similar to a church bombing in December.

The group said there was a need for more attacks on wealthy Copts, singling out the Sawiris family, Egypt’s most famous billionaire Christian family.

IS also attacked the Muslim Brotherhood, as well as the Salafi, pro-government Nour Party, labelling them both “apostates” due to their public stands of solidarity with Copts following IS attacks.

The militant group also labelled as apostates leading Egyptian clerics following their strong criticism of IS attacks on Christians.

Those named as apostates in the video include the grand imam of al-Azhar mosque, Ahmed el-Tayeb, and Salafi sheikh Mohammed Hassan.

IS named the Coptic Cathedral attacker as Abu Abdullah el-Masry, an Egyptian citizen from the mainland, as opposed to the Sinai Peninsula where the group has its main base.

They threatened to carry out similar attacks, adding: “To my brothers in prison, we swear we will free Cairo soon, and free you, and come with explosions.”

According to IS, Egypt’s Coptic Christians have broken their "contracts" with the Muslims, and now constitute a tool of “the crusaders against the Islamic faith”.

For this reason, the militant group said Egypt’s Christian community would be the target of further attacks similar to the Coptic Cathedral bombing that killed and injured dozens in December.

IS said that the generally estimated number of Copts in Egypt, up to 18 million, is incorrect, and that their real number is not more than four million.

Despite this, IS also said that Coptic investment made up 40 percent of Egypt’s economy.

IS is most active in Egypt’s Sinai province, and aims to expand from there into Egypt’s other more populous provinces.

via www.middleeasteye.net

Egypt turns to Japanese model to reform education

Al Monitor, by Menna A. Farouk

Some Egyptian schools are adopting Japan's Tokkatsu whole child educational model, which includes having students do cleanup duties. This photo from the Japan International Cooperation Agency Egypt office shows some of these practices at work. (photo by Facebook/JICA-Egypt)  

Egypt is turning to the Japanese model in education to reform the school system, which has been suffering for years from government neglect.

The Egyptian Education Ministry said it had applied the Japanese “Tokubetsu Katsudo (Tokkatsu)” whole child education model in 12 Egyptian schools and would be applying the model in 100 others. The ministry also said it would establish 100 new Egyptian-Japanese schools, which will be completed in the coming academic year.

The Tokkatsu method is an essential component in the Japanese education curriculum, which seeks a balanced development of social, emotional, physical and academic aspects of children through various activities. The activities include cultural and sports events as well as interactive classroom discussion between teachers and children to promote active learning.

In Japanese elementary schools, students participate in special activities, including cleaning the classroom and being the class leader for a day (nitchoku).

In October 2015, the Egyptian Ministry of Education and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency introduced 10 activities on a trial basis in two elementary schools. These activities included washing hands, nitchoku, cleaning, a physical fitness test and a five-minute daily calculation drill.

Reda Hegazi, the head of the Education Department at the Education Ministry, said that Japan has a successful experience in education as the system fosters morals and discipline as well as boosts skills and activities. He said Egypt's application of the Japanese model does not mean that Egyptian curricula, especially in the humanities, will be discarded. “However, schools will be benefiting from teaching techniques used at Japanese schools, particularly in science and mathematics, as well as activities that develop skills and the spirit of teamwork,” he said.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi paid a visit to Japan early last year seeking more cooperation, particularly in education. During the visit, Sisi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced their joint partnership on education, the “Egypt-Japan Education Partnership,” to expand cooperation in education, including early childhood, basic, technical and higher education as well as in scientific research, technology and innovation.

According to the partnership, Egypt will use the Japanese education model Tokkatsu to develop school activities that address ethics, discipline and collaborative spirit among Egyptian students.

Tarek Nour El Deen, an education expert, said that applying the Japanese education model in Egypt can greatly contribute to developing the country’s educational and assessment systems.

“The Japanese model creates a productive and attractive learning environment that boosts school discipline, supported by the latest technologies. It also has an assessment system that measures student understanding and critical thinking rather than memorization,” he told Al-Monitor.

The expert said that while the system pays special attention to developing the students’ character, their desirable attitudes and behavior, it also motivates them to learn and teaches them effective study habits. “The system also helps students learn subjects by themselves as well as depend on themselves to accomplish their daily duties,” Nour El Deen said.

Japan has one of the highest literacy rates in the world, with 100% enrollment in compulsory grades and zero illiteracy. While high school education is not compulsory, high school enrollment is over 96% all over Japan and nearly 100% in the cities. The high school dropout rate is about 2% and about 46% of all high school graduates go on to university or junior college, according to official data.

Ibrahim Farag, an education expert and a researcher, said Egypt is turning to the Japanese education model as it is moving ahead with major developmental projects, including the Suez Canal expansion, road networks and the new administrative capital and other housing projects. “And such projects need creative minds to make them successful and maintain their productiveness and benefits,” he added.

Farag also said that the Japanese education model will no doubt face criticism from parents and students because some activities carried out in the system include students cleaning their schools by themselves. “In Egypt, it is not known to have students clean schools instead of having custodians collect the trash. Some people may not accept such an activity,” Farag said.

However, he noted that Egypt can greatly benefit from Japan in integrating technology into education and having exams that measure student skills and teaching them to correlate academic subjects and reality.

According to a global report by education firm Pearson, Japan ranks fourth among the world’s developed countries with the best education systems. The rankings are calculated based on various measures, including international test scores, graduation rates and the prevalence of higher education seekers.

The study notes that while funding is an important factor in strong education systems, having cultures supportive of learning is even more critical — as evidenced by the highly ranked Asian countries where education is highly valued and parents have big expectation.

Egypt’s educational system has been wobbling for years due to government neglect as well as corruption. Overcrowded classes, outdated curricula and aging facilities are the main features of any public school nationwide.

Creating a free system of education was part of late President Gamal Abdel Nasser's socialist reform plan in the 1950s and the 1960s to acknowledge the aspirations of the masses regardless of their social class.

Yet, over the years, the educational system has been eviscerated by a crumbling, corrupt and bureaucratic civil service with untrained, poorly paid teachers, prompting students to take on private tutors to succeed. Educators also say that exams have become more about measuring memorization instead of critical thinking, analysis and innovation.

During the presidency of Hosni Mubarak, expensive private and language schools emerged as public education declined. He was ousted from office in 2011.

In the Global Competitive Index 2016/2017 released by the World Economic Forum, Egypt moved up one spot to rank 115th among 138 countries. Egypt scored 3.67 out of 7 in 2016/2017, up from 3.66 in the previous year, according to the index. The index ranks countries according to 12 factors, including infrastructure, institutions, education, labor market, technological readiness and business sophistication to determine overall economic competitiveness.

 

via www.al-monitor.com

Tourism shows signs of recovery in Egypt

The Straits

Tourists taking a selfie at the Luxor temple in the port city of Luxor, south of Cairo, Egypt, on Dec 14, 2016.PHOTO: REUTERS

CAIRO (AFP) - Tourists are slowly returning to Egypt, easing pressure on a key sector battered by years of turmoil and the 2015 bombing of a plane carrying Russian holidaymakers.

"There is an increase in the number of tourists. This situation was much better in January than in previous years," tourism ministry spokeswoman Omaima al-Husseini said.

Visitors from China, Japan and Ukraine account for a large part of the growth.

China's top public travel agency, China International Travel Service, reported a 58 per cent increase in tourists flying to Egypt compared with 2015.

"There are more bookings between October 2016 and January 2017 than last year," said Egyptian Federation of Tourism chief Karim Mohsen.

"There is an improvement, especially in cultural tourism in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan," he said.

The uptick is a sign of hope for a country also reeling from the shock of an economic reform programme that has triggered massive inflation.

Once a key foreign currency earner, the tourism sector crashed in 2011 after a popular uprising overthrew veteran strongman Hosni Mubarak, ushering in years of sporadic unrest.

Recoveries in the sector since then have been set back by new crises.

In June 2015, a massacre of tourists at a Luxor temple was narrowly averted when assailants armed with assault rifles and explosives bungled the attack and were intercepted by police.

But in October that year, Islamic State in Iraq and Syria group extremists, who are waging an insurgency in the eastern Sinai Peninsula, struck again. They bombed a Russian airliner carrying holidaymakers home from the popular Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

All 224 people on board were killed.

Russia suspended flights to Egypt and Britain cut air links with Sharm el-Sheikh.

Visitor numbers plunged from 9.3 million in 2015 to 5.3 million the following year, Husseini said.

But industry officials have cautiously welcomed what they say is a noticeable improvement since October.

In December 2016, 551,600 tourists visited Egypt compared with 440,000 the year before, according to the government's statistics agency.

"Activity has picked up a bit in the winter of 2016-2017," said Tamer al-Shaer, vice president of the Blue Sky travel agency.

He said that included a 30 per cent increase in Ukrainian tourists and a 60 per cent increase in visitors from China, with daily flights to Aswan, a southern city rich in ancient sites.

Japan's HIS travel agency said the number of tourists heading to Egypt "multiplied by four to five times" last year.

Since charter flights from Japan to Egypt resumed in April 2016, they have been on average 80 per cent full, said a spokesman for the Japan Association of Travel agents.

Egypt hosted a record 14.7 million foreign tourists in 2010, a year before Mubarak's overthrow and the ensuing economic nosedive.

Restoring even two thirds of that number is a key government goal, but it hinges on Russia and Britain resuming flights, Husseini said.

"There are ongoing negotiations... we hope the issue will be resolved as soon as possible," she said.

More than 60 per cent of tourists arriving in Sharm el-Sheikh by plane used to come from Britain or Russia.

"So long as the Russians do not come back, there will be paralysis," the tourism federation's Mohsen said. "Russians and Britons are the backbone of Sharm el-Sheikh."

Other European countries such as Germany and France have registered a slight increase in reservations to Egypt.

In early February, four other European countries - Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden - eased travel warnings against travel to south Sinai, where Sharm el-Sheikh and other resorts are situated.

 

via www.straitstimes.com

Divided we stand

Ahram Online, by Azza Radwan Sedky

In the age of social media, even small matters can become a source of bitter dispute. But when this affects the course of a nation, it's time to pause and reflect

We live in an era where polarisation rules. Outspoken and opinionated, people all over the world flaunt their views regarding significant and insignificant matters. This phenomenon is caused by social media and immediate access to news, but it becomes daunting and disconcerting if the way issues and public figures are evaluated affect the course that a country pursues.

Take President Obama’s tenure as an example. Some Americans and non-Americans, in particular Middle Easterners, counted the hours and minutes till Obama exited the Oval Office; this while others thanked their lucky stars that Obama occupied the Oval Office when he did. Besides being an articulate communicator and a scandal free family man, Obama lifted the US from the economic abyss that preceded his presidency; at least that is what some say. This while others, including former President George Bush Jr, as The New Yorker satirically mentioned, counted the days until Bush was no longer the worst president in history and was superseded by Obama.

Take President Trump as another example. President Trump received the worst approval ratings for a president-elect of all his recent predecessors, and yet he secured the presidency of the most powerful country in the world. During his presidential campaign, he aggravated many, including the disabled, the gay community, most minorities, NATO, and those south of the US border, but others hailed him as the needed game changer, the president who will make America great again. While some waited feverishly to see him enter the White House, anti-Trump protestors took to the streets and clashed with police leading to many arrests and injuries.

Trump inauguration protests were followed by the Women’s March that flooded American cities and others worldwide with approximately five million marchers, of which one million were in Washington, DC alone. Americans are deeply divided on this one, and the jury is still out thus far.

In Egypt we are no better; in fact, we may be in a worse state, polarised as in no other times — from Ahly Club to Zamalek Club's polarised fans, from the Abou Trieka to the Tiran and Sanafir court cases and, more importantly, from pro- to anti-Sisi views, Egyptians remain split.

Let’s start with what seems insignificant but is still proof of the existing polarisation. Ahly Club fans cheer their players and club all the way, as they should, but shouldn’t they cheer for Zamalek if it plays against an international club? Cutting off their noses to spite their faces, they don’t, and as convoluted as it is, Ahly fans forget that Zamalek is an Egyptian club after all.

The saying “My cousin and I against the stranger” should apply here, but it doesn’t.

Now to more pressing matters. Just about everyone in Egypt knows and is absolutely sure beyond any shadow of a doubt that the two islands Tiran and Sanafir are Egyptian or Saudi depending on their allegiance. Proof, maps, documents, presidential speeches were utilised to prove one opinion or another.

Now that the courts ruled in favour of rejecting the transfer of the two islands to Saudi Arabia, some gloat with satisfaction. Chances are those in glee hardly heard of Tiran and Sanafir prior to the kerfuffle. Indeed, the uproar may have had little to do with sovereignty and more to do with proving one’s point and coming out as the winner.

Mohamed Abou Treika is another case in point. A person can be a football star and a Muslim Brotherhood member simultaneously, but Egyptians prefer to see him as one or the other. So now that the courts added Abou Treika’s name to the terror list, Egypt is divided yet again.

Some hail Abou Treika’s successes and stardom, and the fact that any international club would’ve paid a fortune to have him join its team. The “Magician,” as he was once dubbed, had others belittling such achievements, bringing up his support for ex-President Morsi, his commiseration of the mother of one of the Kerdassa killers, and his refusal to shake hands with Field Marshall El-Sisi as proof that he is pro-Muslim Brotherhood and, hence, not a loyal Egyptian but a terrorist.

The culmination of the division is in how Egyptians perceive President El-Sisi. From day one, while the majority of Egyptians stood beside El-Sisi, a group remained steadfast in its refusal of how ex-President Morsi was removed, the return of a military man to rule, and the method by which Rabaa Al-Adawiya was stormed. This set the stage for the ongoing and lasting critical views of anything President El-Sisi initiates and endorses.

President El-Sisi is blamed for the deep-rooted and ingrained shortcomings in Egyptian norms and the continuous flow of terrorism in Sinai. No matter how determined President El-Sisi is to take Egypt over the hump of demise, this group will forever focus on the underlying ills.

President El-Sisi is, in their eyes, accountable for all that befalls Egypt, unable to recognise that, in hindsight, Egypt had been ailing for decades.

Obama may have blundered and erred, especially towards the Middle East, but he served Americans well; similar blemishes and successes will apply to President Trump for no one is infallible, and nothing is black or white.

Abou Treika’s agile abilities have nothing to do with his allegiance and loyalty, and the courts should be where the ownership of Tiran and Sanafir is decided, not on Facebook and Twitter.

As for President El-Sisi, Egyptians should continue to expect the best from the man, ask him to work night and day for Egypt, and criticise his shortfalls; this while remaining fair and objective. While they should never overlook his failures, they should cite and appreciate his successes, recognising the mammoth obstacles he is working against.

It is quite acceptable to think differently, but it isn’t acceptable when attitudes break the bonding thread of a country. Better yet, be divided, but don’t be divided in loving Egypt. United we must stand in that.

The writer is an academic, political analyst, and author of Cairo Rewind: the First Two Years of Egypt's Revolution, 2011-2013.

via english.ahram.org.eg

El Fayoum—you should go

Everywhere I went this winter some person, club, or association was in the midst of planning a trip to El Fayoum, Suddenly El Fayoum had become the in place, the winter destination of many. Tempted to see for myself what's behind this newfound zeal, I, along with friends, children, and grandchildren, headed out to El Fayoum on a balmy, 22-degree, February day.

As we got closer to Fayoum, a serene and tranquil aura engulfed us: Lake Qarun on our right and agricultural land endowed with lush greenery, palm trees, and subliminal peacefulness on our left. In two hours time, we arrived at our hotel, left the young ones around the heated pool and headed our way to Wadi El Rayan, a protected ecological site designated as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. And we were definitely not disappointed.

We drove for a good hour or so before we entered the World Heritage site of Wadi El Rayan. It cost us five Egyptian pounds per person, aka approximately 25 cents, which must be upped immediately since the excursion is worth by far more, and if the area is to maintain its preserved nature and status.The rugged and uneven terrain is the only drawback, but the end result was worth every bump and jolt.

Wadi el Hitan Museum, the Whale Valley Museum, a paleontological wonder, sits amidst this ecologically rich area. The museum opened its doors only last year and is the prime source for the current infatuation with Fayoum. Designed in such a way so as to simulate the sand dunes of the area, the dome-like structure is as breathtaking as the surrounding dunes it replicates.

Inside a mind-blowing story unfolds depicting a history that spans over literally millions of years. Archaeological changes to the area are explained with photographs, graphs, illustrations, and, more striking, fossils. The oceans that existed and disappeared over millions of years, the evolution of inhabiting creatures from ones with claws and limbs to swimming dolphin-like ones, and the history behind all this is exemplified in the museum.

The museum’s centre piece is a dome-like chamber that houses the fossils of two entire huge whales that lie side by side, one of a doridun, the other of a basilosaurus isis, a massive limbed whale.

No other place in the world reveals how whales evolved over time from a land-based animal into an ocean mammal or is favoured with the number and quality of fossils as Wadi el Haitan.

The museum also boasts a 25-seat auditorium that runs a documentary on the evolutionary process as far as creatures and land is concerned. The plaque at the entrance pays homage to not only designers and archaeologists but every worker who contributed effort and time. The glass doors into the museum have perforated drawings that speak of the same creatures. All additional buildings such as the cafeteria and washrooms enjoy the same structure, the dome-like one, as the main building of the museum. All in all the museum borders on the superb, and it deserves the International Council of Museums Best Practice for 2016 that it won.

That is for the interior; once outside, the mapped area pinpoints several fossil formations of whales and other sea creatures. The notion that we are viewing the fossils of the inhabitants of this area, which are extinct today, but roamed the vicinity millions of years back, leaves one in awe.

Content and gratified, we moved on.

The driver of the four-wheel drive careened us through a landscape of unbelievable beauty, down hilly surfaces and up steep terrain amidst a sweeping expanse where erosion and time rendered impeccable formations across a vista that takes one’s breath away. 

There is more to Fayoum: waterfalls that spring in the midst of nowhere and a flourishing pottery village, Tunis, that boasts pottery schools and scores of artistic outlets where you can try your hand in making your own pottery. That is besides other activities such as birdwatching, hiking, trekking, sand-boarding, parasailing, and fishing.

The whole area has a serene ambience to it that is unmatched anywhere in Egypt, or elsewhere around the world.  I can see why El Fayoum has suddenly gained the interest of many. El Fayoum—you should go.