[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.]
Political Rights
Why is the Egyptian opposition unfit to govern? A popularly held belief about political opposition in Egypt is that it suffers from fragmentation and organizational weakness, and that, were these various groups and individuals to unite and organize, they might remove the military dictatorship from power and govern Egypt effectively.
LE7 million price tag for Egyptian citizenship Egyptian citizenship now has a price tag. Under a new law passed by Parliament on 16 July, foreigners who deposit at least seven million Egyptian pounds in a local bank will be granted a five-year residency and the opportunity to apply for citizenship.
Egypt court seeks Mufti's opinion on death sentences for 75 leading Brotherhood members in Rabaa dispersal case An Egyptian criminal court issued on Saturday preliminary death sentences to seventy-five members of the terrorist-designated Muslim Brotherhood group in the criminal case known as "the Rabaa Dispersal Case."
Sisi to open sixth national youth conference on Saturday Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi will open the sixth national youth forum at Cairo University on Saturday under the heading “Create, Start.”
'We want to build an Egyptian character fit for the challenges of our times,' Sisi tells Youth Conference Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi opened on Saturday the 6th National Youth Conference, which is taking place at Cairo University on 28-29 July.
Sisi urges Administrative Control Authority to transform Egypt into digital country within 4 yrs Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi urged Administrative Control Authority officials on Sunday, during the second day of the youth conference, to transform Egypt into a digital country within four years.
Systems will not succeed without stability and security, says Egypt's Sisi during second day of youth conference Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi opened on Sunday the second day of the sixth National Youth Conference, which is taking place at Cairo University.
Egypt's Sisi promotes Defence Minister Mohamed Zaki from Lieutenant General rank to General Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi announced on Saturday during the opening session of the sixth National Youth Conference in Cairo the promotion of Defense Minister Mohamed Zaki from the rank of Lieutenant General to General, the second highest rank in Egypt's armed forces.
Egypt's parliament votes in favour of PM Madbouly's policy statement The Egyptian parliament voted on Wednesday in favor of newly appointed Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly's policy statement, which was delivered before parliament on 3 July.
Economy
Undervalued and underestimated: When working for the state doesn’t pay off There has been much written about the impact of the government’s decision to float the Egyptian pound and implement a number of austerity measures after signing an agreement with the International Monetary Fund for a twelve billion US dollar loan in November 2016. But what about the effects felt by the 6.8 million government employees who are not provided for by Takaful, Karama, or Amman, and who saw their fixed salaries drastically cut after the currency devaluation? They are the ones responsible for the implementation of the government’s programs, and many of them are struggling to subsist.
Foreign Relations
US lifts suspension of US$195 million in military aid to Egypt The United States government decided on Wednesday to release 195 million US dollars in military aid to Egypt, which was suspended in 2017 over concerns regarding Egypt’s human rights record, the Associated Press reported.
Washington committed to supporting Egypt through aid programme: Pompeo to FM Shoukry Washington is committed to providing political and economic support for Cairo, especially through its aid program, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry in a phone call late on Tuesday, according to a statement by Egypt's foreign ministry.
Egypt participates in Global Coalition against Daesh meetings in Washington The Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced its participation in the Global Coalition against Daesh’s meeting, to be held this month in Washington to discuss ideological and media strategies to counter the militant groups, Al-Ahram Arabic website reported.
Palestinian reconciliation necessary for Palestinian-Israeli peace talks: Egypt's Sisi tells WJC head Achieving reconciliation between Palestinian factions and restoring political legitimacy in the Gaza Strip would help advance efforts to revive the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks and reach a just solution to the Palestinian issue, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told President of the World Jewish Congress Ronald Lauder during a meeting in Cairo, according to a statement by presidential spokesman Bassam Radi on Sunday.
Gaza first Egypt told Hamas this week it needs to stop prevaricating over its commitment to the frail truce Cairo has managed to secure between it and Israel, according to an informed Egyptian official.
Will Fatah reject Egypt’s proposal for Palestinian reconciliation? Several days after Hamas Political Bureau Head Ismail Haniyeh released a statement announcing Hamas’s acceptance of Egypt’s proposal for Palestinian reconciliation, Fatah came out in criticism of the Gaza-based movement’s leaders on Saturday.
Sudanese delegation expected to be in Cairo 7 August Egypt is expecting an official Sudanese delegation on 7 August to start preparing for a presidential committee that will take place in October, Egyptian Ambassador in Sudan Osama Shaltout said in a press statement Saturday.
Egypt's Foreign Minister discusses latest developments in Libya with French counterpart Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed the latest developments in Libya with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian on Thursday, according to a statement by Egypt's Foreign Ministry.
Domestic Security
Police announce death of 13 militants in Arish, Province of Sinai claims responsibility for killing 2 military officers Thirteen armed militants and two military officers were killed in two separate altercations that took place between Islamic State-affiliated militant group Province of Sinai and Egyptian security forces this week in North Sinai, according to local media reports.
Operation Sinai 2018 destroyed terrorism infrastructure in N Sinai: Egypt's army spokesperson in first-ever interview Just over five months have passed since the Egyptian armed forces launched the comprehensive military Operation Sinai 2018 in cooperation with the police.
Classes canceled, condensed and deferred: North Sinai students in limbo amid military operation After waiting four months for his second semester to resume, Soliman Mohamed, who is a freshman at Arish University’s Faculty of Education, has been occupying his spare time by working at a fast food cart in central Arish.
Permits, penalties and paranoia Diaa Rashwan, head of the State Information Service, the government body tasked with overseeing foreign media in Egypt, is outspoken about his belief that the Egyptian state is in open conflict with the international press.
From Jadaliyya Egypt
Critical Voices in Critical Times: Peter Mayo on Gramsci, Egypt and Critical Pedagogy This interview is part of the series “Critical Voices in Critical Times” coordinated and edited by Linda Herrera. In this interview, Peter Mayo, professor at the University of Malta and renowned scholar on Gramsci and Freire, engages with Egyptian sociologist from the University of Manchester, Nadim Mirshak, in a compelling conversation about civil society, hegemony and the “Modern Prince.” They explore the challenges of doing critical work under authoritarian contexts and the need to develop a globalization from below as an alternative to neoliberal globalization.
Arabic
«حوار| عن عدالة التطوير في مثلث ماسبيرو ومستقبل «الأسمرات Mada Masr interviews the executive director of slums development fund about the process through which the government plans to upgrade Maspero triangle and al-Asmarat.
علاقات مصر وكبار أوروبا.. «اﻷولويات» تنتصر والملف الحقوقي يتراجع The article examines how Egypt relations with European countries focus on shared priorities instead of supporting democracy and human rights.
المطربون و23 يوليو.. من الغناء للملك للتغني بناصر The article discusses how patriotic songs that emerged after 23 July revolution aimed at glorifying leaders instead of the nation.
العين بالعين: وقائع حرب يوليو بين داعش واتحاد قبائل سيناء Almanassa sheds light on the role of Sinai Tribal Union in fighting Wilayat Sinai during July.
«مجلس النواب» يبدأ إجراءات إسقاط العضوية ضد نواب من «25-30» The parliament started implementing the procedures to revoke the membership of twenty-five to thirty members of parliament.
أسرة أبو الفتوح ومحاموه ينددون بانتهاك حقوقه في الحبس الاحتياطي Abul Fotouh's family denounced his prolonged pre-trial detention, blaming the authorities for his deteriorating health.
وفد مصري «سيادي» في واشنطن: استطلاع للعلاقات... أم احتواء للنفوذ الخليجي؟ An Egyptian delegation made a secret visit to Washington to discuss the importance of their relations and cooperation over a wide range of critical matters.